Jonathan's Way leads all the way in Iroquois on Road to Kentucky Derby

Sep 14, 2024 Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024) – Rigney Racing’s Jonathan’s Way is the early points leader on the 2025 “Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve” after the Vekoma colt bred in Ohio won Saturday’s 43rd running of the $254,745 Iroquois (Grade III) for 2-year-olds in gate-to-wire fashion by 2 3/4 lengths over Owen Almighty at Churchill Downs. Giocoso was another 4 1/4 lengths back in third, Mesero was fourth and Sandman finished fifth.

Sent to post as the 6-5 favorite, Jonathan’s Way ran one mile over a fast track in a swift 1:36.08 under jockey Joel Rosario for trainer Phil Bauer and local owner Richard Rigney. For comparison, Jonathan’s Way ran :01.74 faster than Pocahontas winner La Cara two races earlier.

Jonathan’s Way banked the $131,130 first prize and 10 points on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” point system that will determine the field for next year’s 151st Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on May 3, 2025 at Churchill Downs. The Iroquois was the first in a series of 36 select races on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby,” and the top five finishing positions earned points on a sliding scale of 10-5-3-2-1, respectively.

Breaking from post position No. 9 in field of 11 2-year-olds, Jonathan’s Way zipped away from the gate in the one-turn mile. Pressured from the outside by Magnitude down the backstretch, Jonathan’s Way ran the first quarter mile in :23.21 and the half in :46.62. Giocoso ranged into contention midway through the turn, but Jonathan’s Way spurted clear at the top of the stretch.

#10 Jonathan's Way backs up his debut win and grabs the first Kentucky Derby prep race in the G3 Iroquois at @churchilldowns for trainer Phil Bauer with @jrosariojockey aboard! 🏆

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/JAoC3UdYUe

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 14, 2024

Owen Almighty, the Ellis Park Juvenile winner who tracked the leaders between horses early on, put in a late charge in deep stretch but was no match for the clear winner.

“In his last start he didn’t show that much speed from the gate, but when he broke so well today, he just took himself to the front and traveled so easily around there,” Rosario said. “Being only his second start, you have to be impressed with how he’s handled so far and I think anything is possible for him down the Road to the Kentucky Derby.”

Jonathan’s Way paid $4.52, $3.04 and $2.62. Owen Almighty, the 5-2 second choice under Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $3.64 and $2.88. Giocoso, with James Graham up at odds of 24-1, paid $7.66.

Meroso and Sandman were fourth and fifth, respectively, and were followed by Jack’s Time, Magnitude, Strummin, Authentic Strike, Firmus and Politicallycorrect. First Resort was scratched.

Jonathan’s Way is perfect in two starts. He impressively broke his maiden by 4 1/4 lengths at Saratoga on Aug. 17 after being pinched back after the start. His career earnings now total $276,815.

“From the first day we bought him as a weanling we were impressed by him,” Bauer said. “We always knew how impressive he was training into his debut, and when he ran that day at Saratoga, he did so professionally after missing the break. Now, today showing a totally different dimension being on a lead, it’s an amazing feeling moving forward. I’m still trying to put it all in perspective – we’re the favorites on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.”

A $290,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale, the dark bay or brown colt was bred in Ohio by Susan L. Anderson Racing LLC and is out of the Indian Charlie mare Female Drama.

The next races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby come Saturday, Oct. 5 with the $500,000 Champagne (GI) at Aqueduct; $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland; and $300,000 American Pharoah (GI) at Santa Anita.