The $300,000-dollar Iroquois Stakes is Saturday at Churchill Downs. In addition to the purse money the winner of the one-turn mile will earn ten points toward next year’s Kentucky Derby.
Here is a brief look at the field:
1. CARIBBEAN LIFE [ML6-1] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Will Waldon. Drew away in the stretch to win easily in his seven-furlong debut at Ellis Park. Has the pedigree to handle the added furlong, though breaking from the rail at this distance is a challenge.
2. BLESSED FLYER [ML9-2] Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. Trainer: Michael Tomlinson. Rallied from 5th to win the Bashford Manor Stakes here in an excellent final time. The rival he beat by a neck flopped in his next try, but a bullet workout on September 5th seems to indicate this colt could be primed for another good performance.
3. BEARAMOUR [ML 30-1] Jockey: James Graham. Trainer: Keith Desormeaux. Set the pace when he was well-beaten by fellow Iroquois starter SALAHUDIN in in the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes. The distance may not be to his liking, but he has decent speed- know him early.
4. ADMIRAL’S ORDER [ML 15-1] Jockey: Luan Machado. Trainer: Ben Colebrook. He’s slated to make his dirt debut here, though he was also entered in a turf race September 9th at Kentucky Downs. His dirt workouts have not inspired much confidence for his chances here.
5. REAL GOODBAR [ML 10-1] Jockey: Emmanuel Esquivel. Trainer: Ken McPeek. He won his lone race on turf but has a pedigree that indicates he might have a bright future in dirt races at a mile or more.
6. ANTIVENOM [ML 6-1] Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Trainer: Mark Casse. Was an odds-on choice when he won at first asking in a 5 ½-furlong maiden race at Ellis Park. Has worked out impressively for this and should be fine with the added distance.
7. SALAHUDIN [ML 8-5] Jockey: Florent Geroux. Trainer: Bob Baffert. Won the Ellis Park Juvenile by 4 ½ lengths and is 2-for-2 for Hall of Famer Baffert. Earned a solid speed figure for that Stakes win, making him the one to beat here.
8. HE IS NO LIE [ML 5-1] Jockey: Joel Rosario. Trainer: Doug O’Neill. Was a close 2nd in the Bashford Manor, then flew out West and lost by 13 ½ lengths in the Best Pal Stakes. He started his career in California, shipped to Kentucky, returned to California and now is back in Kentucky. That seems like a lot of trailer-time for a young colt.
9. REAL GONE [ML 12-1] Jockey: Keith Asmussen. Trainer: Patrick Biancone. Was very impressive in his dirt debut, winning by 8 ½ lengths at Gulfstream Park. Earned a good speed figure. In the not-for-nothing category; the jockey is the trainer’s son-in-law.
The Iroquois Stakes is slated as race 10 on a card of 11, with a scheduled Post Time of 5:30.
Best of luck however you play it.
