2013 Iroquois Stakes; New Crop of Two Year Old Colts Ready To Romp

2013 (GIII) Iroquois Stakes;
New Crop of Two Year Old Colts Ready To Romp

This weekend will be the 139-year history off Churchill Downs twelve days of racing dubbed “The Homecoming Meet” and will hold eight stakes races with total purses of nearly $1 million in prize money. The inaugural schedule is headlined by a pair of important events for 2 year-olds, the $150,000 Pocahontas (GII) and the $150,000 Iroquois (GIII).

The Iroquois Stakes is named for Iroquois, the first American horse to win the English Epsom Derby. The speed record for this race is held by Harlan’s Holiday at 1:35.01 in 2001. The trainer with the most wins is William Mott with four, 1983, 1990, 1991 & 2007.

The 32nd running of the 2013 Iroquois Stakes is an open gender race for 2 year olds going 1 1/16 mile on the dirt for a purse of $150,000 to be run Saturday, September 7, 2013. This is a 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile “Win and You’re In” race with award points towards the May 2014 Kentucky Derby. This is a full line-up of twelve 2 year-old colts and geldings set to clash on Saturday in the Downs after Dark series.

One young colt I like in the 2013 Iroquois Stakes is the 2 year-old son of Yes It’s True and trained by Kelly Breen, Jimmy Connors. Jimmy Connors recently aced his first time out in the “Pat & Nilsa Anniversary Special” on July 27, 2013 going 5 ½ F on the dirt at Monmouth Park. He broke out in the stretch run and passed the two favorites to win by 4 ½ lengths. As the race caller Larry Collmus dubbed it “Game, Set and Match.” I thought that was too funny. Jimmy Connors gets post #8 with L.E.Trujillo in the irons.

Another bad boy in here is the son of Curlin, Ride on Curlin, trained by William Gowan. Ride On Curlin recently broke his maiden at Ellis Park by breaking the track record in 1:03 for 5 ½ F on July 17, 2013 after coming in second prior to that in a race at Churchill Downs on June 21. He recently worked 5f at Churchill Training on fast dirt in 1:01.00 finishing 1/2. Ride on Curlin has Calvin Borel up to ride and exits post #9.

Steve Asmussen is represented here by Tapitur, out of sire Tapit, whose only start resulted in a runner-up finish behind Strong Mandate, eventual winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful. I’m looking for Tapitur to pull it together better in this race and possibly score his maiden win here. Tapitur leaves from post #4 with R. Santana in the saddle.

The 2013 Iroquoise Stakes is going to be fun to watch to see how these young fellas do at the further distance. I’m going with Jimmy Connors, Ride On Curlin and Tapitur to hit the board Saturday in no particular order. For a big long-shot in here I like the #11, Stonecrusher out of Birdstone. He’s one of my favorite sires so it would be nice to see a son of his hit the board and score his first maiden win. I find it interesting both Kelly Breen’s horses in the Iroquois & Pocahontas got post #8 which is my lucky number and I picked both horses before post positions were drawn. Something else that makes me go “hmmmmm.” Good luck to all of the guys and their connections, ride home safe.

The 2013 Iroquois Stakes is the 7th race of the evening with a post time set for 9:05 PM EDT.

2013 Iroquois Post Positions & Odds
1. Laddie Boy 20/1 Castanon/C.Peery
2. All Cash 15/1 M.Mena/DWLukas SCRATCHED
3. Rise Up 5/1 R.Napravnik/T.Amoss
4. Tapiture 7/2 R.Santana/S.Asmussen
5. Cleburne 10/1 J.Lanerie/D.Romans
6. Honorable Judge 12/1 J.RoccoJr./E.Reid Jr.
7. Solemnly Swear 6/1 J.Bravo/K.Breen
8. Jimmy Connors 12/1 L.E.Trujillo/K.Breen
9. Ride On Curlin 5/2 C.Borel/G.Gowan
10 Smart Cover 12/1 S.Bridgmohan/D.Romans
11. Stonecrusher 20/1 M.Johnson/G.Hartlage
12. Cee’n O 20/1 A.Garcia/D.Romans SCRATCHED
UPDATED RESULTS: 5, 10, 4, 9, 1, 3, 11, 7, 8, 6