Spice Runner gets up late to earn first Kentucky Derby points in Iroquois

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It was quiet enough to hear individual footfalls as the field of 2-year-olds for Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Iroquois Stakes walked to the paddock from the stable area. The volume was turned up about 20 minutes later, shouts going up from the crowd as Spice Runner nailed favored Comport by a head at the wire for the victory. And it will be considerably louder beneath the twin spires 33 weeks from now, should Spice Runner continue to progress all the way from this second Saturday in September to the first Saturday in May.

The Iroquois was the first race awarding points toward the 2026 Kentucky Derby, with the top five finishers picking them up on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale. The race also is part of the Breeders’ Cup’s “Dirt Dozen” program, with the top three finishers earning a tiered bonus bankroll that can be used toward pre-entry and entry fees for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

"It's a good place to start," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "We all know how much there is to do from here."

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Spice Runner ($12.38), a homebred for Winchell Thoroughbreds by the phenomenal stallion Gun Runner, and Comport, trained by Eddie Kenneally for Joseph Sutton, both had some stakes seasoning, and a budding rivalry, coming in to the Iroquois. Both colts won their debuts during Churchill's spring meet - Spice Runner holding by 2 1/4 lengths after he "acted a fool" pre-race, according to Asmussen. In the Bashford Manor going six furlongs here on June 29, Spice Runner prompted a hot pace of 21.39 seconds and 44.39 before fading to fifth; Comport was a well-beaten second to Romeo.

In the Ellis Park Juvenile, going seven furlongs on Aug. 10, the colts were closely-matched throughout. Spice Runner set the pace, with Comport prompting him; Comport eventually took over and kicked clear by two.

"He came back [off his debut] in the Bashford Manor; he's capable of a little pace, obviously, but as big as his body is did not respond to the 44 and change," Asmussen said. "I think, obviously, a positive note in the Ellis Juvenile."

In the Iroquois, contested at a one-turn mile, Comport emerged from an early scramble to briefly hold the lead, but then was well-held by Tyler Gaffalione as No More Cents came up on the inside to claim the lead through a strong opening quarter of 22.69, followed by a more moderate half in 46.06.

"He got a little keen today," Kenneally said of Comport. "I think he has some room to improve off of this one."

Comport struck the lead around the turn and easily shrugged off initial challenges, opening as much as two lengths in the stretch. But Spice Runner had worked his way through between horses on the turn and had aim in second as the top two got some separation from the field. The colt wandered about when urged by Jose Ortiz, but focused on the foe in front of him in the final yards and was up at the wire.

"Today, he handled considerably better early in the race, thought he was considerable better in the paddock and post parade," Asmussen said of the still-developing colt. "Still did not appreciate the whip, obviously, but I think there's [more] talent there, and great to see him get 10 points and win going a mile."

The time for the mile on the track rated fast was 1:36.59.

After the top two, it was five lengths to Vost, seventh after the opening half, to rallied to edge Nothing Personal by three-quarters of a length for third. They were followed, in order, by Maximus Prime, Shake and Rattle, Nine Ball, So Special, Sometime, and No More Cents.

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