Iroquois, Pocahontas kick off road to Kentucky Derby and Oaks

The build-up is already well under way toward the respective 150th editions of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks next May. But officially, the prep racing toward those classics gets started on Saturday, right where those journeys will come to an end 33 weeks later as Churchill Downs cards the Grade 3, $300,000 Iroquois Stakes and its sister race the Grade 3, $300,000 Pocahontas Stakes.

The two stakes are part of the first weekend card of this September meeting that includes three other stakes – the Grade 3, $400,000 Locust Grove for fillies and mares, the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society for sprinters; and the $300,000 Open Mind for female sprinters. First post for the 11-race card is 12:45 p.m.

The Iroquois and Pocahontas are the first races awarding points on the system Churchill Downs uses to determine field preference toward the Derby, limited to 20 starters, and the Oaks, limited to 14 starters. Each race awards points to its respective top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis. This year, Churchill tweaked the prep system slightly to create more separation between second- and third-place finishers in designated races; while this change will be more dramatic as point values rise when the classics draw closer, for now, the second-place point values have been increased to 5 points from 4.

The Iroquois and Pocahontas also have been tweaked slightly on the annual stakes schedule. Both were shortened this year to a mile from their previous 1 1/16 miles, meaning they will be run out of the chute and around one turn. That configuration has helped attract Risk It, one of the most visually impressive debut winners of the summer at Saratoga, to the Iroquois.

“He’s trained like he’ll get a mile,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “Obviously with his pedigree and what he’s shown to this point, we’re going to continue to dream.”

Risk It fired away from his rail draw in his debut on Aug. 19 at Saratoga and controlled the tempo throughout. He drew away to win by 4 1/2 lengths, finishing the six furlongs in 1:10.75. His victory only came back with a Beyer Speed Figure of 79 – but that is still one of the highest numbers in the Iroquois field of nine.

Risk It, by classic sire Gun Runner, was a $500,000 yearling purchase by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm and received his early training from Asmussen’s parents, Keith and Marilyn Asmussen, in Laredo, Texas. With that background, it is no surprise that Risk It broke quickly and was able to control the pace. The Asmussen program in Laredo is known for producing good gate horses, which can often be a major advantage for inexperienced young runners.

“He went through my parents’ program in Laredo and they always thought very highly of him,” Steve Asmussen said. “He’s been very professional and competitive.”

Risk It and Tyler Gaffalione, who also was aboard for his debut, drew post 8 in this field of nine and will likely have some other pace to contend with toward their inside. West Saratoga, well drawn in post 2, Market Street, and Seize the Grey all used front-running tactics in maiden victories.

West Saratoga won his maiden in his fifth career start, going a mile at Ellis Park, which is essentially a 1 1/2-turn configuration. He earned a Beyer of 81, narrowly the best in the field.

Market Street is the only other entrant to run a mile or longer. After finishing second in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special at 6 1/2 furlongs, he went 1 1/16 miles on turf in the Grade 3 With Anticipation. He set the pace before fading to seventh.

There also should be a good amount of pace in the one-turn Pocahontas. Youalmosthadme and Peignoir are both front-running types, with Courbe, Hot Beach, and Regal Rumor all likely to press.

Youalmosthadme is already a stakes winner, as she took the Kentucky Juvenile against males going five furlongs in May in her first start for trainer Brad Cox after being privately sold. Cox then gave her time to settle into his program, and she did not race again until the Debutante on Aug. 13 at Ellis. Sent away favored in the seven-furlong race, she stumbled at the start and did well to recover and make up ground to finish third.

Hot Beach, who had been second in her first start, won her maiden in the Debutante. She is well drawn in the outside post here to get a similar pace-stalking trip.

“Whenever they break their maiden in a stakes, you know they could have a bright future,” trainer Brian Lynch said. “I think the sky is the limit with her.”

If a quick pace develops, V V’s Dream could stand to benefit. She rallied from seventh at the first call for a 6 1/4-length debut win in May at Churchill. She then stalked the pace en route to finishing second in the Debutante, which was moved from Churchill to Ellis in early July. She was beaten just half-length by Brightwork, who went on to win a pair of graded stakes at Saratoga.

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