Road to Kentucky Derby 2024: Iroquois Stakes 

By Jarrod Horak

The Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes will be run Churchill Downs on Saturday, Sept. 16. Nine juvenile males entered this flat mile contest, and this is the first road to Kentucky Derby 2024 points race. I will look at pace ratings and best final time ratings, rank the contenders first to last, and share my wagering strategies. My Iroquois video is included at the bottom of this post.

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Grade 3 Iroquois – Sept. 16 – Race 9 – One mile dirt

1 – Liberal Arts (20-1) – Cristian Torres 

2 – West Saratoga (8-1) – Rafael Bejarano

3 – Union Roll (5-1) – Gerardo Corrales

4 – Edified (8-1) – Ricardo Santana Jr.

5 – Market Street (8-1) – Gabriel Saez

6 – Seize the Grey (10-1) – Jaime Torres 

7 – Gettysburg Address (12-1) – Flavien Prat

8 – Risk It (2-1) – Tyler Gaffalione

9 – Patriot Spirit (7-2) – Jesus Castanon

Today’s Racing Digest Pace Ratings – Most Representative Line

Market Street – 147 (G3 Sanford – 6f – July 15)

Patriot Spirit – 144 (MSW – 7f – Aug. 25)

West Saratoga – 140 (MSW – 8f – Aug. 5)

Gettysburg Address – 131 (MSW – 6f – Aug. 6)

Risk It – 129 (MSW – 6f – Aug. 19)

Seize the Grey – 125 (MSW – 6.5f – July 29)

Edified – 120 (G2 Saratoga Special – 6.5f – Aug. 12)

Liberal Arts – 110 (MSW – 7f – Aug. 13) 

Union Roll – 99 (MSW – 6f – Aug. 13)

I agree with the pace ratings to some extent. I do think Market Street will be on or very near the front end. Patriot Spirit drew the outside post and will try to stalk while out in the clear. That is the same trip he had in his Colonial Downs debut at seven panels. West Saratoga is quick early and should be close to the lead in his third start after a layoff. Gettysburg Address stalked in his bow and will probably do the same thing in this spot. Risk It is probably rated too low on the pace projection. He broke right on top from the rail in his 6f bow at the Spa and won comfortably. He drew an outer post this time and will likely press the issue. 

Today’s Racing Digest Final Ratings – Most Representative Line

Union Roll – 123 (MSW – 6f – Aug. 13)

Liberal Arts – 116 (MSW – 7f – Aug. 13)

Patriot Spirit – 114 (MSW – 7f – Aug. 25)

Seize the Grey – 114 (Skidmore -5.5f – Aug. 18)

Risk It – 113 (MSW – 6f – Aug. 19)

Gettysburg Address – 110 (MSW – 6f – Aug. 6)

Edified – 108 (MSW – 6f – July 1)

West Saratoga – 105 (MSW – 5f – June 4)

Market Street – 101 (G2 Saratoga Special – 6.5f – Aug. 12)

The final time ratings need some deciphering. Union Roll tops the race but I am not sure about the overall strength of the Monmouth event he exits. This race is thrown wide open if his number is a bit inflated. Liberal Arts has a yo-yo special weight pattern (116-98-102), and it took him three starts to graduate. The Arrogate colt goes from post 11 to the rail, and he is bred to handle the added ground of this race. Patriot Spirit looked good in his Colonial Downs extended sprint bow but I have some doubts about the depth of that race. Seize the Grey handled wet tracks in his last pair. Can he earn a better number on fast dirt? Risk It seems to be a bit underrated. The $500k Gun Runner colt looked good visually at the Spa on Aug. 19. He drew outside his main pace rivals and might get first run. 

Jarrod’s Iroquois Picks (first to last)

1st – Risk It

2nd – Union Roll

3rd – Liberal Arts

4th – Patriot Spirit

5th – Seize the Grey 

6th – Gettysburg Address

7th – Edified

8th – West Saratoga

9th – Market Street

Jarrod’s Iroquois Wagers

#8 to win

Trifecta 8/1-3/ALL

Trifecta 8/ALL/1-3