The Home To The Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, hosts the Iroquois Stakes this Saturday, 9/14/24. We are back in the saddle, for the very first race stakes race, that rewards the necessary and qualifying points, leading up to the 151st Kentucky Derby on 5/3/25. There are 36 predetermined North American races on The Road. Additionally, there are four Japanese and seven European-Middle East races that qualify for the KY Derby. At the end, only 20 thoroughbreds will race in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Read on for race one!
The first Kentucky Derby Prep, for the 2025 KY Derby, is the 43rd, Grade III, Iroquois! Race 10, on a card of 11, will post at 5:29 PM ET on 9/14/24. This 1 mile dirt race for 2 year-old thoroughbreds carries a purse of $300,000.
Twelve early KY Derby dreamers are entered to win 10-5-3-2-1 KY Derby Prep points, to the first five finishers, in respective order. The entries are as listed by post/horse/jockey/trainer/and morning-line odds:
- First Resort/Rafeal Bejarano/Eoin G. Harty/Godolphin, LLC./12-1
- Giocoso/James Graham/Keith Desormeaux/Rocker O Ranch, LLC./10-1
- Jack’s Time/Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr./Kelly R. Von Hemel/Brian Hall, Jason and Justin Loutsch, Jason Cline and Nick Jensen/20-1
- Authentic Strike/Luis Saez/Rodolphe Brisset/Ann M. Harrison and Renata D. Hendrickson/12-1
- Owen Almighty/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Brain Lynch/Flying Dutchman/5-2
- Strummin/Cristian Torres/John A. Hancock/Randle L. Glosson/12-1
- Sandman/Jose Ortiz/Mark Casse/D J Stable, LLC., St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and C J Stables/6-1
- Magnitude/Tyler Gaffalione/Steve Asmussen/Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC./8-1
- Firmus/Ricardo Santana, Jr./Wayne Catalano/Coffeepot Stables/20-1
- Jonathan’s Way/Joel Rosario/Philip Bauer/Rigney Racing, LLC./9-2
- Mesero/Corey Lanerie/Dale Romans/CJ Thoroughbreds and Delia Nash/15-1
- Politicallycorrect/Florent Geroux/Christopher Davis/Walmac Farm/Five Fillies Stable, LLC. and Ryan C Ritt./6-1
Watching is winning for Thoroughbred U. FanDuel TV will cover the races at Churchill Downs on 9/14/24. Additionally, don’t miss race 8, on this same card. The 56th running of the Pocahontas Stakes is kicking off The Road to The Kentucky Oaks. It feels so good to be back in the saddle, again. As always, thanks to our readers old and new. Comment, share, like and return!