Champali makes it three straight in Iroquois

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Hours before entries were drawn Friday for the at Churchill Downs, jockey Pat Day lost his mount when Private Gold was diagnosed with a minor ankle injury.

Such problems have never been too big for Day to overcome. He simply went out and got another mount, and Sunday, it was Day who gave Champali a flawless ride in keeping the colt unbeaten in the 21st running of the $114,200, Grade 3 Iroquois.

Champali, trained by Greg Foley, was part of an early six-horse duel in the one-mile Iroquois but always appeared comfortable when racing closest to the rail.

Into the stretch, after several others had faded, he put away Alke and Boston Park when drawing off to a 1 1/4-length victory. He paid $19 as fourth choice in a field of 10 2-year-olds after finishing in 1:37.06 over a fast track.

What a Bad Day, the even-money favorite, had a somewhat troubled trip before settling for fourth, while Posse, the 4-1 second choice, tired to finish eighth.

Champali is owned by Lloyd Madison Farms, an ownership syndicate managed by Rob Lloyd of Louisville. A Kentucky-bred colt by Glitterman, he had won an Ellis Park maiden race and a Keeneland allowance coming into the Iroquois.

The Iroquois is the local prep for the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on closing day, Nov. 30.