Iroquois Stakes

The Iroqouis Stakes marks the seasonal start for the next Road to the Kentucky Derby point path. The race is also a member of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series that many runners point to the year end Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

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Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky

Inaugural Race: 1982

TV Coverage: Free on TwinSpires.com!

Current Distance: 1 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs)

Track Type: Left-Handed, Dirt

Age Qualification: 2YO

Purse: $300,000

Race Date: Sunday, September 15th

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2024 Iroquois Stakes Race Results

POST
HORSE
JOCKEY / TRAINER
WIN / PLACE / SHOW
10
Johnathan's Way
Joel Rosario / Philip Bauer
$4.52 / $3.04 / $2.62
5
Owen Almighty
Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Brian Lynch
$3.64 / $2.88
2
Giocoso
James Graham / J. Desormeaux
$7.66
11
Mesero
Corey Lanerie / Dale Romans
7
Sandman
Jose Ortiz / Mark Casse
3
Jack's Time
Brian Hernandez, Jr. / Kelly Von Hemel
8
Magnitude
Tyler Gaffalione / Steve Asmussen
6
Strummin
Christian Torres / John Hancock
4
Authentic Strike
Luis Saez / Rodolphe Brisset
9
Firmus
Richard Santana, Jr. / Wayne Catalano
12
Politicallycorrect
Florent Geroux / Christopher Davis

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $2.00 Exacta (10-5) Paid: $14.12
  • $0.50 Trifecta (10-5-2) Paid: $34.98
  • $0.10 Superfecta (10-5-2-11) Paid: $47.21

Watch the 2024 Iroquois Stakes


Iroquois Stakes Race History

The Iroquois Stakes is run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY in mid-September.  Itā€™s the first graded stakes race for Thoroughbred horses on opening day at the Churchill Downs Fall Meet. The race is open to 2-year-olds and is part of the ā€˜Road to the Kentucky Derbyā€™. Itā€™s the first race of the tiered points system that awards Derby points to the top-5 finishers (10-5-3-2-1).

The Iroquois (pronounced Ear-Ah-Coy) is named for Iroquois, the first American horse to win the English Epsom Derby. Prior to 2013 the race was one mile on the dirt track, and open to juveniles only. From 2013 to 2019, the Grade III race was run at a distance of ā€Š1 1ā„16 miles, until reverting back to its historical distance of 1 mile in 2020. Both the 2021 and 2022 editions were run at 1 1ā„16 miles before reverting back to 1 mile again for the 2023 edition.  The Iroquois currently offers a purse of $300,000.

In the 2016 Iroquois, Not This Time finished full of run to win going away by more than 8 lengths over Lookin at Lee, who would go on to finish 2nd in the 2017 Kentucky Derby. Not This Time, a son of the great sire Giantā€™s Causeway, finished 2nd by a neck to Classic Empire in his next race as the favorite in the Breedersā€™ Cup Juvenile. A very unfortunate soft tissue injury to his front right leg during that race ended the promising career of the striking dark bay colt, as Not This Time was an early leading contender for the Kentucky Derby.    

Harlanā€™s Holiday (2001) held the fastest one mile record in the Iroquois (1:35.01). In the 1 1/16 mile editions of the race, Dennis' Moment (2019) finished with the best time in 1:43.60.

Bill Mott and Dale Romans are the trainers with the most wins in the Iroquois (4 each). 

Founded in 1982 to honor Iroquois, the first U.S.-bred to win the Epsom Derby in 1881, the Iroquois Stakes was formerly run around the same time as the Breedersā€™ Cup Juvenile. It was moved to the new Churchill Downs September meet in 2013, and increased in distance from one mile to 1 1/16 miles.

The Iroquois Stakes is also the first race in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series. The first four horses past the post all earn qualifying points, split out on a 10-4-2-1 basis. No winner of the Iroquois Stakes has gone on to win a Triple Crown race as yet, though 2016 runner-up Lookin At Lee went on to finish second in the 2017 Kentucky Derby.

Since its move to September, the Iroquois has become an important lead-up to the Breedersā€™ Cup Juvenile. Most of its winners since 2013 have gone on to contest the Juvenile, with one, 2015 winner Not This Time, running a close second in the Breedersā€™ Cup Juvenile to Classic Empire.

Notable winners of the race include Tiz Wonderful, Court Vision, and Harlanā€™s Holiday.

Iroquois Stakes Past Winners

YearWinnerJockey / TrainerDistance / Time
2024
Johnathan's Way
Joel Rosario / Philip Bauer
1 mile / 1:36.08
2023
West Saratoga
Rafael Bejarano / Larry W. Demeritte
1 1/16 miles / 1:37.3
2022
Curly Jack
Edgar Morales / Thomas M. Amoss
1 1/16 miles / 1:45.6
2021
Major General
Javier Castellano / Todd A. Pletcher
1 1/16 miles / 1:44.9
2020
Sittin On Go
Corey Lanerie / Dale L. Romans
1 mile / 01:35.0
2019
Dennis' Moment
Irad Ortiz Jr. / Dale L. Romans
1Ā 1/16Ā miles / 01:43.6
2018
Cairo Cat
Brian Hernandez Jr. / Kenneth G. McPeek
1Ā 1/16Ā miles / 01:45.3
2017
The Tabulator
Jose Valdivia Jr. / Larry Rivelli
1Ā 1/16Ā miles / 01:45.5
2016
Not This Time
Robby Albarado / Dale L. Romans
1Ā 1/16Ā miles / 01:45.2
2015
Cocked and Loaded
Emmanuel Esquivel / Larry Rivelli
1Ā 1/16Ā miles / 01:44.9

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