Believe it or not, the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) opens Saturday at Churchill Downs with the $300,000 Iroquois Stakes (G3).
For all of you handicappers tracking promising 2-year-olds over the summer, it’s time to hunker down and see if you’re on the right path.
The 1-mile Iroquois offers Derby qualifying points on a sliding scale of 10-5-3-2-1 to the first five finishers. Qualifying points will increase significantly as the road to the 152nd Derby on May 2 moves forward with more than two dozen preps.
The first wave of preps begins Oct. 4 with a trio of Grade 1s -- the American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita, the Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct and the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.
The Street Sense Stakes (G3) is Oct. 26 at Churchill, with the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on Oct. 31 at Del Mar closing out the month – and usually determining the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby.
Among the leading 2-year-old males through the summer are Ted Noffey, winner of the Hopeful Stakes (G1) on Sept. 1 at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher; Brant, winner of the Del Mar Futurity (G1) on Sept. 7 at Del Mar for Bob Baffert, Blackout Time for trainer Kenny McPeek, and Ewing for trainer Mark Casse.
While none will be running in the Iroquois, Comport looks to be the headliner in a field of 10 entered on Monday. A win would move him right into the mix of 2-year-olds to watch.
Comport, winner of the 7-furlong Ellis Park Juvenile on Aug. 10 for trainer Eddie Kenneally, brings a 2-for-3 record into the race and will leave from gate 7 under Tyler Gaffalione.
Prior to his first stakes win, Comport broke his maiden at Churchill during the spring meet, and ran second in the Bashford Manor Stakes.
Spice Runner, runner-up to Comport in the Ellis Park Juvenile, looks to turn the tables for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Spice Runner won his debut in late May at Churchill Downs before finishing fifth in the Bashford Manor. Jockey Jose Ortiz will ride from post 5.
Also entered are Nothing Personal, Sometime, No More Cents, So Special, Shake and Rattle, Vost, Nine Ball, and Maximus Prime.
Post time for the Iroquois is 4:26 p.m. ET.
The morning-line odds will be announced later in the week.
The Iroquois is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Dirt Dozen” series where the top three finishers earn credits toward entry fees in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Also on the 11-race card Saturday is the 57th running of the $300,000 Pocahontas Stakes (G3), the opening prep on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 1.
The 1-mile race has the same qualifying points structure as the Iroquois – 10-5-3-2-1 to the first five finishers.
Dazzling Dane, a two-length winner of the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park, is among the six 2-year-old fillies entered. She is 2-for-2 for Maryland-based trainer Brittany Russell. Luis Saez has the call from post 6.
Also entered are Our Two Girls, Starlit Sky, Miss Complicated, Taken by the Wind, Joke Maker, and Embrace the Moment.
Our Two Girls and Taken by the Wind are both trained by Kenny McPeek a four-time winner of the Pocahontas.
Post time is 3:21 p.m.
The race is part of the BC “Dirt Dozen” as the top three nominated finishers gain partial entry credits to the BC Juvenile Fillies (GI).
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
