Sittin On Go draws first blood with Iroquois victory

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - About three hours before the 2020 Kentucky Derby was run, Sittin On Go announced himself as the first arrival on the road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby. The colt remained unbeaten in his short career by springing a $50 upset in the Grade 3, $200,000 Iroquois Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs, the first points-scoring race toward next year's Derby.

The Iroquois awarded Derby points to the top four finishers - Sittin On Go, Midnight Bourbon, Super Stock, and beaten favorite Therideofalifetime - on a 10-4-2-1 basis. Sittin On Go also earned a fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Nov. 6 at Keeneland as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series.

Not only did Sittin On Go put himself in contention to move on to major events, he continued a major weekend for his connections with young horses. Sittin On Go is trained by Dale Romans for Albaugh Family Stables, which also campaigned his sire, Brody’s Cause. On Thursday, Romans and the Albaughs won the sister race to the Iroquois, the Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes, with Girl Daddy, earning a berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and points toward next year's Kentucky Oaks - and on stable principal Dennis Albaugh's 71st birthday, no less.

"Two Breeders' Cup-bound - I love that letter I get from them!" Albaugh said. "We're very happy. The Pocahontas, and now this one."

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Meanwhile, this was the fourth win in the Iroquois for Romans, tying the race record held by Bill Mott. He sent out winners Cleburn (2013), Not This Time (2016), and Dennis' Moment (2019), the latter two owned by the Albaughs. Where does Sittin On Go stack up?

"We've got a serious racehorse," Romans said. "This is a serious horse."

Sittin On Go, who won his debut by 4 1/4 lengths going five furlongs on Aug. 16 at Ellis Park, stretched out to a one-turn mile in the Iroquois. Unhurried early under Corey Lanerie, the colt was ninth in the field of 10 and about 4 1/2 lengths back as Therideofalifetime, who had been second in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special last out, hit the halfway point of the race with an opening half in 45.64 seconds while under pressure. Midnight Bourbon, who was sitting in an ideal stalking position in third on the outside around the turn, pounced on the fading leader to open a 1 ½-length lead into the stretch. Meanwhile, Sittin On Go swung four wide into the lane for clear sailing and uncorked his run. With steady urging from Lanerie, he picked up momentum down the center of the track, caught Midnight Bourbon near the sixteenth pole, and pulled clear in the final yards to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

The final time on the fast track was 1:35.

Midnight Bourbon was second by 1 3/4 lengths over Super Stock, with another 5 1/4 lengths to Therideofalifetime.

Later Saturday, Romans and the Albaughs are both vying for the Kentucky Derby, albeit as opponents. The Albaughs co-own Thousand Words with Spendthrift Farm. Bob Baffert trains that colt. Romans saddles Attachment Rate for Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister.

"I don't know what I'd do if I won that one," Albaugh said.