The 2026 Iroquois Stakes will be run on Saturday, September 12, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The Grade III race is contested at 1 mile on dirt for 2-year-olds with a $300,000 purse and opens the U.S. Road to the 2027 Kentucky Derby.
| Date | Saturday, September 12, 2026 |
| Track | Churchill Downs |
| Race | Race 10 |
| Distance | 1 mile |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Grade | Grade III |
| Purse | $300,000 |
| Age | 2-year-olds |
| Kentucky Derby Points | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Post Time | 5:29 PM ET |
Entry Update: The 2026 Iroquois Stakes field is confirmed with nine starters. The Equibase race card lists the final post positions, jockeys, trainers, and Race 10 post time. Official morning-line odds are not shown on the current card, so the odds table will display TBA until prices are released.
| 1 | Caribbean Life (KY) | 6-1 | Flavien Prat | William Walden |
| 2 | Blessed Flyer (KY) | 9-2 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Michael Tomlinson |
| 3 | Bearamour (KY) | 30-1 | James Graham | John Desormeaux |
| 4 | Admiral's Order (KY) | 15-1 | Luan Machado | Ben Colebrook |
| 5 | Real Goodbar (KY) | 10-1 | Emmanuel Esquivel | Kenneth McPeek |
| 6 | Antivenom (KY) | 6-1 | Jose Ortiz | Mark Casse |
| 7 | Salahudin (KY) | 8-5 | Florent Geroux | Bob Baffert |
| 8 | He Is No Lie (KY) | 5-1 | Joel Rosario | Doug O'Neill |
| 9 | Real Gone (KY) | 12-1 | Keith Asmussen | Philip Biancone |
Last Updated on 09/09/2026
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The Iroquois Stakes launches the U.S. Road to the Kentucky Derby and gives a field of developing 2-year-olds their first opportunity of the season to earn qualifying points at Churchill Downs. The 2026 race awards points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five eligible finishers.
The field also brings together several nationally recognized connections, including jockeys Flavien Prat, Jose Ortiz, Florent Geroux, and Joel Rosario, along with trainers Bob Baffert, Mark Casse, Kenny McPeek, and Doug O'Neill.
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The Iroquois Stakes was inaugurated at Churchill Downs in 1982 and earned Grade III status in 1990. The race is named for Iroquois, the first American-bred horse to win England's Epsom Derby.
Since moving into Churchill Downs' September meet, the Iroquois has become the opening U.S. points race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, giving young horses an early opportunity to earn qualifying points over the same dirt surface used for the Kentucky Derby.
Spice Runner won the 2025 Iroquois Stakes for jockey Jose L. Ortiz and trainer Steven M. Asmussen in 1:36.59. Jonathan's Way won the 2024 edition for jockey Joel Rosario and trainer Philip Bauer in 1:36.08.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Spice Runner | Jose L. Ortiz | Steven M. Asmussen | 1:36.59 |
| 2024 | Jonathan's Way | Joel Rosario | Philip Bauer | 1:36.08 |
| 2023 | West Saratoga | Rafael Bejarano | Larry Demeritte | 1:37.28 |
| 2022 | Curly Jack | Edgar Morales | Thomas M. Amoss | 1:45.62 |
| 2021 | Major General | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | 1:44.88 |
The 2026 Iroquois Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, September 12 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It is Race 10 with a scheduled post time of 5:29 PM ET.
The 2026 Iroquois Stakes is contested at 1 mile on dirt at Churchill Downs.
The 2026 Iroquois Stakes carries a $300,000 purse.
The Iroquois Stakes is restricted to 2-year-old Thoroughbreds.
Yes. The confirmed 2026 Iroquois Stakes field has nine starters: Caribbean Life, Blessed Flyer, Bearamour, Admiral's Order, Real Goodbar, Antivenom, Salahudin, He Is No Lie, and Real Gone.
The official 2026 Iroquois Stakes morning line is not shown on the current Equibase race card. The odds table above will be updated once official prices are available.
The latest 2026 Iroquois Stakes odds are listed in the odds table above and will be updated as official and race-day prices become available.
The Iroquois Stakes is a Grade III Thoroughbred dirt race for 2-year-olds held at Churchill Downs. It is the opening U.S. points race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The Iroquois Stakes is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
The top five eligible finishers in the 2026 Iroquois Stakes earn Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
You can bet online at BUSR. Create an account, fund your account, and select Churchill Downs and the Iroquois Stakes from the available racing markets. BUSR also offers a 10% horse betting rebate paid daily on selected wagers.
Spice Runner won the 2025 Iroquois Stakes under jockey Jose L. Ortiz for trainer Steven M. Asmussen, completing the race in 1:36.59.
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The confirmed field is set, with official odds to be updated as prices become available.
