Grade 3, $150,000 Iroquois Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Churchill Downs, Sept. 15, 2018 (10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth) Winner: Cairo Cat, by Cairo Prince Trainer: Kenny McPeek Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. Owner: Walking L Thoroughbreds LLC Beyer Speed Figure: 80 And so it begins. The long and winding road on which horses earn points toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 4 kicked off with this race at the home of the Derby. It also carries significance this year, since the Breeders’ Cup will be at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2-3, and this race was a “Win and You’re In” toward the Juvenile on Nov. 2. The winner, CAIRO CAT, beat maidens in an off-the-turf race on Aug. 11 at Saratoga in his second start, then added Lasix for this race and got a career-best figure, though the fig is inferior to what the best in the division earned in races such as the Del Mar Futurity (Game Winner, 93) and Hopeful (Mind Control, 84). Still, winning a race over this track proves he likes it, and that could be important in coming months. In this race, Cairo Cat moved slightly to his left leaving the gate to avoid MANNY WAH and was jostled. He was near the rear while three paths wide into the first turn, then advanced and was cleverly angled to the rail by Hernandez before the run around that turn was complete. He continued to advance while saving ground down the backstretch, had to wait right behind pacesetter TIGHT TEN three furlongs out, remained there into the lane, initially attempted to come up the rail, then was switched out on the heels of Tight Ten near the sixteenth pole and got up. He displayed the ability to advance, sit, then kick anew, which will help get him out of tight spots. Tight Ten, who finished second, broke sharply and led into the first turn while inside, though he did try and drift out just a bit on the initial portions of that turn. He continued to lead down the backstretch with MY SIXTH SENSE providing pressure, inched away from rivals into the lane, was in the two path in upper stretch, then drifted toward the rail while swapping back to his wrong lead in deep stretch, an indication he was laboring from his early efforts. He couldn’t hold off Cairo Cat, but was well clear of everyone else. POLE SETTER, who was third, bumped with rivals leaving the gate but was able to get a stalking position just behind the leaders into the first turn while three paths wide. He remained outside down the backstretch and ended up four paths wide into the far turn, made a menacing move on the turn to get up into second coming into the lane, but couldn’t quite finish off the race and was losing ground to the top two late. TOBACCO ROAD, who was fourth, bumped with Pole Setter leaving the gate, raced midpack while between runners into the first turn, then lost ground down the backstretch and was passed by, among others, Cairo Cat. He wound up four paths wide on the far turn and entered the lane on the heels of Pole Setter, then went evenly the rest of the way. EVERFAST, who finished fifth, raced three paths wide while midpack around the first turn, was alongside Cairo Cat for much of the backstretch but was outrun by the winner heading into the far turn, drifted to the three path on the far turn, was just inside Tobacco Road through the lane, drifted in slightly a furlong out, and made no impact late. SYNTHESIS, who was sixth, broke poorly, then went into the first turn near the back while in the four path, at which point he took an awkward step; I couldn’t tell if he was rank, made a sloppy lead change, or both. He made steady progress down the backstretch while being gradually angled toward the rail, saved ground while being outrun, then was wheeled to the five path coming off the bend and inched closer while swapping over to his wrong lead passing the sixteenth pole. Manny Wah, who was seventh, broke to his inside leaving the gate, causing Cairo Cat to check. He had good speed and went into the first turn in the three path, outside of Tight Ten and My Sixth Sense. He remained three wide down the backstretch and around the far turn, was asked for his best heading into the lane, was on Tight Ten’s hip coming off the bend, but steadily retreated. ROYAL URN, who was eighth, saved ground while just behind Tight Ten into the first turn, was difficult to settle and had to check off heels, was still a bit keen going down the backstretch, went into the far turn between rivals while just behind the leaders, was on his wrong lead in upper stretch, had to check to avoid Everfast near the furlong pole, and finished evenly. He acts like he might like the turf. My Sixth Sense, who was ninth, raced between rivals around the first turn and then took up an attacking position just outside Tight Ten into the backstretch, was right with Tight Ten with a half-mile to go, began to weaken nearing the quarter pole and dropped back. HOG CREEK HUSTLE, who finished 10th, had no speed and was near the rear of the pack heading into the first turn, then had to check at the seven-furlong pole and was last. He moved up between rivals heading into the backstretch while still well back, was asked to advance three furlongs out while racing in the clear, but had nothing to offer. MR WRENCH IT, who was 11th, raced at the rear of the pack while saving ground around the first turn, was well back throughout, and never was involved. DRUNK AS A SKUNK, who was last of 12, broke slowly and then was jostled between rivals, checked nearing the first turn, dropped back to last with six furlongs to go, and was badly outrun thereafter.