Churchill Downs Picks | Iroquois Stakes 2024 [Kentucky Derby]

Aaron previews the 2024 Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs & gives his top win pick from the 1st official prep race for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1).

The Kelly Von Hemel-trained Jack’s Time, an impressive debut winner at Prairie Meadows, steps up to face several tough rivals, including the 5/2 favorite Owen Almighty.

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The press release:

The Road to the 151st Kentucky Derby officially kicks off Saturday at Churchill Downs with the 43rd running of the $300,000 Iroquois Stakes (Grade III), headlined by Flying Dutchmen’s undefeated stakes winner Owen Almighty.

The Iroquois, run as Race 10 on the 11-race card, will go off at 5:29 p.m. (all times Eastern), with the first post at 12:45 p.m.

The one-mile race will award qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five finishers, kicking off the Road to the Kentucky Derby, a series of races across the world that will set the stage for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

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Trained by Brian Lynch, Owen Almighty stormed onto the scene with a 3 ½-length maiden win at Churchill in June before returning to dominate the Ellis Park Juvenile by 4 ¾ lengths in mid-August. With jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. set to ride, the son of Speightstown will look to keep his perfect record intact from post No. 5.

Among the top challengers in the Iroquois is Politicallycorrect, winner of the Bashford Manor Stakes and second to Owen Almighty in the Ellis Park Juvenile. Owned by Walmac Farm, Five Fillies Stable and Ryan Ritt, Politicallycorrect will have Florent Geroux aboard for trainer Chris Davis and will break from post 14.

Also entering the fray is Jonathan’s Way, a dazzling debut winner one month ago at Saratoga for Rigney Racing and trainer Phil Bauer. The Ohio-bred son of Vekoma had a difficult break in his Aug. 17 debut but easily circled his eight rivals around the far turn before drawing away by 4 ¼ lengths under Joel Rosario. The duo will reunite for the Iroquois from post 10.

In addition to its role in the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Iroquois Stakes is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Dirt Dozen” series that provides entry fee credits toward the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) for the top three Breeders’ Cup-nominated finishers.