Study Guide: 2024 Iroquois Stakes

Sep 11, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

The 2024-25 Road to the Kentucky Derby begins this Saturday at the same place where it leads: Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby (G1).

The first leg of the series is Churchill’s $300,000 Iroquois (G3), a one-mile contest that awards Kentucky Derby qualification points to the top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis. A dozen talented two-year-olds have entered the Iroquois, and it won’t be surprising if one (or more) wind up competing in next year’s Kentucky Derby.

Let’s meet the field:

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First Resort

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Eoin Harty
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing second in the Saratoga Special (G2) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $81,895

Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Fair Maiden
Color: Bay

First Resort romped in his debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Ellis Park and followed up with a respectable runner-up finish in the 6 1/2-furlong Saratoga Special (G2). The son of champion juvenile Uncle Mo has lots of early speed and figures to set the pace from the rail, but it remains to be seen whether he can stretch out over one mile.

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Giocoso

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Rocker O Ranch
Breeder: Breed First
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: James Graham

Top Speed Rating: (88) when breaking his maiden on turf at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $58,396

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Nutcracker Suite
Color: Dark bay/brown

Giocoso dominated a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on turf last month, winning by 6 1/4 lengths. But he finished fifth in his lone start on dirt, so returning to dirt for the Iroquois is a question mark.

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Jack’s Time

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Brian Hall, Jason Loutsch, Justin Loutsch, Jason Cline, and Nick Jensen
Breeder: Albaugh Family Stables
Trainer: Kelly R. Von Hemel
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (83) when winning his debut at Prairie Meadows.
Total Earnings: $27,702

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Msbrooklynbrawler
Color: Bay

Jack’s Time was tons the best when debuting in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Prairie Meadows, leading all the way to win by 10 3/4 lengths. He’s facing much tougher competition in the Iroquois, but there’s clearly talent here.

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Authentic Strike

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Ann M. Harrison and Renata D. Hendrickson
Breeder: BlackRidge Stables
Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (81) when winning his debut at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $41,285

Sire: Authentic
Dam: Wise Strike
Color: Chestnut

Authentic Strike led from start to finish to win his debut sprinting seven furlongs at Ellis Park. His 81 Brisnet Speed rating was modest, but he’s bred to stretch out over one mile and is eligible to improve in his second start. It’s encouraging to note trainer Rodolphe Brisset wins at an excellent 21% rate with horses running long for the first time.

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Owen Almighty

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Flying Dutchmen
Breeder: Mark Stanley
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (87) twice, including when winning the Ellis Park Juvenile S. at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $174,760

Sire: Speightstown
Dam: Tempers Rising
Color: Bay

Owen Almighty is unbeaten and unchallenged in two starts. He tracked the pace on his way to winning a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs by 3 1/2 lengths, after which he employed pace-pressing tactics to dominate the seven-furlong Ellis Park Juvenile S. Those victories yielded sharp 87 Brisnet Speed ratings, and Owen Almighty’s willingness to rate off the lead sets the stage for a perfect trip in the Iroquois under five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. He’s shaping up as the horse to beat.

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Strummin

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: Randle L. Glosson
Breeder: Kali Kleinfelt and Justyn Harper
Trainer: John Hancock
Jockey: Cristian Torres

Top Speed Rating: (86) when breaking his maiden at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $132,269

Sire: Flameaway
Dam: Queen of the Party
Color: Gray/roan

Strummin unleashed a big late rally to win a one-mile maiden special weight at Ellis Park by 2 3/4 lengths, earning a career-best 86 Brisnet Speed rating. The Iroquois is a tougher spot, but Strummin is progressing in the right direction.

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Sandman

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables
Breeder: Lothenbach Stables
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (90) when breaking his maiden at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $58,600

Sire: Tapit
Dam: Distorted Music
Color: Gray/roan

Sandman struggled in his debut at Churchill Downs, finishing fifth. But he improved sharply in his second start, closing from midfield to win a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga by 1 3/4 lengths. That victory produced a 90 Brisnet Speed rating, the highest number in the Iroquois field, so this $1.2 million auction acquisition is a key win threat while returning to Churchill.

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Magnitude

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Ron Stolich
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (85) when breaking his maiden at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $48,200

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Rockadelic
Color: Bay

Magnitude proved much the best in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Ellis Park last time out, leading all the way to win by 5 3/4 lengths. But the pace he set was modest and there’s a lot of speed entered in the Iroquois, so Magnitude may face a tougher setup in his stakes debut.

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Firmus

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Coffeepot Stables
Breeder: Coffee Pot Stable
Trainer: Wayne Catalano
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (79) when winning his debut at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $41,590

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Farrell
Color: Chestnut

A beautifully bred son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin out of five-time graded stakes winner Farrell, Firmus closed nicely from a couple lengths off the pace to win a six-furlong maiden special weight at Ellis Park. The 79 Brisnet Speed rating he earned is on the slow side, but Firmus is bred to shine while stretching out over one mile, and sharp recent workouts suggest he still has room for improvement.

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Jonathan’s Way

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Rigney Racing
Breeder: Susan L. Anderson Racing
Trainer: Philip Bauer
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning his debut at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $55,000

Sire: Vekoma
Dam: Female Drama
Color: Dark bay/brown

Jonathan’s Way impressed in his debut dashing six furlongs at Saratoga, charging hard after a troubled start to trounce his rivals by 4 1/4 lengths. His reward was a strong 89 Brisnet Speed rating, so with a clean start in the Iroquois, he’ll be a formidable contender.

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Mesero

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: CJ Thoroughbreds and Delia Nash
Breeder: Delia Nash
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Corey Lanerie

Top Speed Rating: (79) when winning his debut at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $41,285

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Lemon Liqueur
Color: Gray/roan

Mesero broke slowly in his debut, sprinting six furlongs at Ellis Park before closing from eight lengths behind to win by 1 3/4 lengths. His 79 Brisnet Speed rating was on the slow side, but if Mesero breaks better in his second start, he’s eligible to outrun expectations for four-time Iroquois-winning trainer Dale Romans.

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Politicallycorrect

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Walmac Farm, Five Fillies Stable, and Ryan C. Ritt
Breeder: St. George Farm
Trainer: Christopher Davis
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning the Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $233,920

Sire: Violence
Dam: Heron Watch
Color: Bay

Politicallycorrect won his first two starts at Churchill Downs with completely opposite tactics. He wired his debut, then closed from last place to dominate the Bashford Manor S. by five lengths. He was subsequently beaten 4 3/4 lengths by Owen Almighty after dueling for the lead in the Ellis Park Juvenile S., but perhaps Politicallycorrect can rebound while returning to Churchill.