The Tabulator wins the Iroquois Stakes

The Road to the 2017 Kentucky Derby is officially under way, with The Tabulator earning the first 10 points in the series by winning the 1 1/16-mile Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs Sept. 16.

The Tabulator, who is trained by Larry Rivelli for owner Carolyn Wilson, sat outside the lead before running clear in the stretch, and his margin of threequarters of a length would have been greater but for not maintaining a straight line in his run to the finish.

It’s very early to be making predictions about whether The Tabulator will be at Churchill Downs on the First Saturday in May, but his pedigree suggests he at least has a chance of staying the 1 ¼-mile trip.

The Tabulator is by the 2011 Florida Derby winner Dialed In (Mineshaft), last season’s leading first-crop sire and the sire of six stakes winners this year. His progeny have performed well from sprint distances to 1 ¼ miles. His best horse to date, Gunnevera, finished seventh in this year’s Kentucky Derby and was a solid second over the same trip to West Coast in the Travers Stakes (G1).

The Tabulator’s female pedigree also doesn’t preclude stamina. His dam Fly to the Stars (Giant’s Causeway) has also produced Star Via Strada, third in the 1 1/16-mile California Oaks. He’s related to some good sprinters, including dual grade 3 winner Calibrachoa, but also to Bellamy Road, who like Gunnevera has a second-place finish in the Travers Stakes to his credit.

It’s a pedigree that suggests The Tabulator could go either way with his distance preferences, so it will pay to watch his races to get a guide on his likely stamina.

Iroquois Stakes runner-up Hollywood Star shouldn’t be ignored either from a Kentucky Derby perspective, as he closed well after a slow start. He’s by Malibu Moon, sire of 2013 Derby winner Orb, out of Hollywood Story, whose two grade I victories included the 1 1/8-mile Vanity International at Hollywood Park.

The Iroquois is additionally a Breeders' Cup Challenge race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

by Alastair Bull