Iroquois Stakes

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series > Iroquois Stakes

Iroquois Stakes

Iroquois Stakes Race Facts

  • Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY
  • Inaugural Race: 1982
  • Distance: 1 & 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs)
  • Track Type: Left-handed, Dirt
  • Age Qualifications: Two-year-olds
  • 2021 Purse: $300,000
  • 2021 Race Date: Saturday, September 18th

2021 Iroquois Stakes Race Results

POSTHORSEJOCKEY / TRAINERWIN / PLACE / SHOW
8Major GeneralJavier Castellano / Todd A. Pletcher$11.80 / $6.60 / $4.80
1Tough to TameSophie Doyle / Christopher Davis$23.40 / $11.60
7Red KnobsJames Graham / Dale L. Romans$9.00
11Bourbon HeistJoseph Talamo / Ian R. Wilkes
6Stellar TapRicardo Santana, Jr. / Steven M. Asmussen
9GuntownTyler Gaffalione / Steven M. Asmussen
4Strike HardLeonel Reyes / Matthew J. Williams
10Husband MaterialFlorent Geroux / James J. Toner
3Roger McQueenAdam Beschizza / Larry Rivelli
5Magnolia MidnightCorey J. Lanerie / Dallas Stewart

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $2.00 Exacta (8-1) Paid: $349.60
  • $0.50 Trifecta (8-1-7) Paid: $1,162.75
  • $0.10 Superfecta (8-1-7-11) Paid: $2,674.57

Watch the 2021 Iroquois Stakes

Iroquois Stakes Race History

The Iroquois Stakes is run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY in mid-September.  It’s the first graded stakes race for Thoroughbred horses on opening day at the Churchill Downs Fall Meet. The race is open to 2-year-olds and is part of the ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’. It’s the first race of the tiered points system that awards Derby points to the top-4 finishers (10-4-2-1).

In addition to the Derby, the Iroquois is a stop on the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series where the winner earns a start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. In the 2016 Iroquois, Not This Time finished full of run to win going away by more than 8 lengths over Lookin at Lee, who would go on to finish 2nd in the 2017 Kentucky Derby. Not This Time, a son of the great sire Giant’s Causeway, finished 2nd by a neck to Classic Empire in his next race as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. A very unfortunate soft tissue injury to his front right leg during that race ended the promising career of the striking dark bay colt, as Not This Time was an early leading contender for the Kentucky Derby.    

The Iroquois (pronounced Ear-Ah-Coy) is named for Iroquois, the first American horse to win the English Epsom Derby. Prior to 2013 the race was one mile on the dirt track, and open to juveniles only. From 2013 to 2019, the Grade III race has been run at a distance of  1 1⁄16 miles, until reverting back to 1 mile in 2020. The Iroquois currently offers a purse of $300,000.

Harlan’s Holiday (2001) held the fastest one mile record in the Iroquois (1:35.01). In the 1 1/16 mile editions of the race, Dennis’ Moment (2019) finished with the best time in 1:43.60.

Bill Mott and Dale Romans are the trainers with the most wins in the Iroquois (4).

Iroquois Stakes Past Winners

YearWinnerJockey / TrainerDistance / Time
2021Major GeneralJavier Castellano / Todd A. Pletcher1 1/16 miles / 1:44.9
2020Sittin On GoCorey Lanerie / Dale L. Romans1 mile / 01:35.0
2019Dennis' MomentIrad Ortiz Jr. / Dale L. Romans1 1/16 miles / 01:43.6
2018Cairo CatBrian Hernandez Jr. / Kenneth G. McPeek1 1/16 miles / 01:45.3
2017The TabulatorJose Valdivia Jr. / Larry Rivelli1 1/16 miles / 01:45.5
2016Not This TimeRobby Albarado / Dale L. Romans1 1/16 miles / 01:45.2
2015Cocked and LoadedEmmanuel Esquivel / Larry Rivelli1 1/16 miles / 01:44.9
2014Lucky PlayerRicardo Santana Jr. / Steven M. Asmussen1 1/16 miles / 01:45.8
2013CleburneCorey J. Lanerie / Dale L. Romans1 1/16 miles / 01:45.7
2012UncapturedMiguel Mena / Mark E. Casse1 mile / 01:37.6
2011Motor CityCalvin H. Borel / Ian R. Wilkes1 mile / 01:37.2
2010AstrologyGarrett K. Gomez / Steven M. Asmussen1 mile / 01:38.4
2009ThiskyhasnolimitShaun Bridgmohan / Steven M. Asmussen1 mile / 01:37.4
2008Capt. Candyman CanJulien R. Leparoux / Ian R. Wilkes1 mile / 01:35.2
2007Court VisionJulien R. Leparoux / William I. Mott1 mile / 01:37.3
2006Tiz WonderfulGarrett K. Gomez / Scott Blasi1 mile / 01:35.9
2005CatcominatchaRafael Bejarano / Eddie Kenneally1 mile / 01:36.4
2004Straight LineBrice Blanc / Harvey L. Vanier1 mile / 01:36.6
2003The Cliff's EdgeShane Sellers / Nicholas P. Zito1 mile / 01:35.6
2002ChampaliPat Day / Gregory D. Foley1 mile / 01:37.1
2001Harlan's HolidayAnthony J. D'Amico / Kenneth G. McPeek1 mile / 01:35.0
2000MeetyouathebrigGary L. Stevens / W. Elliott Walden1 mile / 01:35.2
1999MightyMarlon St. Julien / Frank L. Brothers1 mile / 01:35.9
1998ExploitChris McCarron / Bob Baffert1 mile / 01:36.3
1997Keene DancerPat Day / David M. Carroll1 mile / 01:37.8
1996Global ViewKenneth Bourque / James O. Keefer1 mile / 01:36.5
1995IdeCraig Perret / Peter M. Vestal1 mile / 01:36.9
1994PeruvianJosé A. Santos / Peter M. Vestal1 mile / 01:36.7
1993Tarzans BladeBrent E. Bartram / Steven L. Morguelan1 mile / 01:37.0
1992Shoal CreekBrent E. Bartram / Anthony L. Reinstedler1 mile / 01:37.5
1991PortroeMike E. Smith / William I. Mott1 mile / 01:38.0
1990RichmanPat Day / William I. Mott1 mile / 01:36.6
1989InsurrectionPatrick A. Johnson / Steven C. Penrod1 mile / 01:36.8
1988DansilLaffit Pincay Jr. / Frank L. Brothers1 mile / 01:38.2
1987BuoyK. Keith Allen / Joseph M. Bollero1 mile / 01:37.8
1986IcetrainMike E. Smith / J. Bert Sonnier1 mile / 01:40.2
1985TilePat Day / Steven C. Penrod1 mile / 01:37.2
1984Banner BobK. Keith Allen / Jerome J. Sarner Jr.1 mile / 01:37.6
1983Taylor's SpecialDon Brumfield / William I. Mott1 mile / 01:37.2
1982Highland ParkDon Brumfield / Anthony Basile1 mile / 01:38.2