Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series > 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
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Major General | Javier Castellano / Todd A. Pletcher | $11.80 / $6.60 / $4.80 |
| 1 | Tough to Tame | Sophie Doyle / Christopher Davis | $23.40 / $11.60 |
| 7 | Red Knobs | James Graham / Dale L. Romans | $9.00 |
| 11 | Bourbon Heist | Joseph Talamo / Ian R. Wilkes | |
| 6 | Stellar Tap | Ricardo Santana, Jr. / Steven M. Asmussen | |
| 9 | Guntown | Tyler Gaffalione / Steven M. Asmussen | |
| 4 | Strike Hard | Leonel Reyes / Matthew J. Williams | |
| 10 | Husband Material | Florent Geroux / James J. Toner | |
| 3 | Roger McQueen | Adam Beschizza / Larry Rivelli | |
| 5 | Magnolia Midnight | Corey 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
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Distance / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Major General | Javier Castellano / Todd A. Pletcher | 1 1/16 miles / 1:44.9 |
| 2020 | Sittin On Go | Corey Lanerie / Dale L. Romans | 1 mile / 01:35.0 |
| 2019 | Dennis' Moment | Irad Ortiz Jr. / Dale L. Romans | 1 1/16 miles / 01:43.6 |
| 2018 | Cairo Cat | Brian Hernandez Jr. / Kenneth G. McPeek | 1 1/16 miles / 01:45.3 |
| 2017 | The Tabulator | Jose Valdivia Jr. / Larry Rivelli | 1 1/16 miles / 01:45.5 |
| 2016 | Not This Time | Robby Albarado / Dale L. Romans | 1 1/16 miles / 01:45.2 |
| 2015 | Cocked and Loaded | Emmanuel Esquivel / Larry Rivelli | 1 1/16 miles / 01:44.9 |
| 2014 | Lucky Player | Ricardo Santana Jr. / Steven M. Asmussen | 1 1/16 miles / 01:45.8 |
| 2013 | Cleburne | Corey J. Lanerie / Dale L. Romans | 1 1/16 miles / 01:45.7 |
| 2012 | Uncaptured | Miguel Mena / Mark E. Casse | 1 mile / 01:37.6 |
| 2011 | Motor City | Calvin H. Borel / Ian R. Wilkes | 1 mile / 01:37.2 |
| 2010 | Astrology | Garrett K. Gomez / Steven M. Asmussen | 1 mile / 01:38.4 |
| 2009 | Thiskyhasnolimit | Shaun Bridgmohan / Steven M. Asmussen | 1 mile / 01:37.4 |
| 2008 | Capt. Candyman Can | Julien R. Leparoux / Ian R. Wilkes | 1 mile / 01:35.2 |
| 2007 | Court Vision | Julien R. Leparoux / William I. Mott | 1 mile / 01:37.3 |
| 2006 | Tiz Wonderful | Garrett K. Gomez / Scott Blasi | 1 mile / 01:35.9 |
| 2005 | Catcominatcha | Rafael Bejarano / Eddie Kenneally | 1 mile / 01:36.4 |
| 2004 | Straight Line | Brice Blanc / Harvey L. Vanier | 1 mile / 01:36.6 |
| 2003 | The Cliff's Edge | Shane Sellers / Nicholas P. Zito | 1 mile / 01:35.6 |
| 2002 | Champali | Pat Day / Gregory D. Foley | 1 mile / 01:37.1 |
| 2001 | Harlan's Holiday | Anthony J. D'Amico / Kenneth G. McPeek | 1 mile / 01:35.0 |
| 2000 | Meetyouathebrig | Gary L. Stevens / W. Elliott Walden | 1 mile / 01:35.2 |
| 1999 | Mighty | Marlon St. Julien / Frank L. Brothers | 1 mile / 01:35.9 |
| 1998 | Exploit | Chris McCarron / Bob Baffert | 1 mile / 01:36.3 |
| 1997 | Keene Dancer | Pat Day / David M. Carroll | 1 mile / 01:37.8 |
| 1996 | Global View | Kenneth Bourque / James O. Keefer | 1 mile / 01:36.5 |
| 1995 | Ide | Craig Perret / Peter M. Vestal | 1 mile / 01:36.9 |
| 1994 | Peruvian | José A. Santos / Peter M. Vestal | 1 mile / 01:36.7 |
| 1993 | Tarzans Blade | Brent E. Bartram / Steven L. Morguelan | 1 mile / 01:37.0 |
| 1992 | Shoal Creek | Brent E. Bartram / Anthony L. Reinstedler | 1 mile / 01:37.5 |
| 1991 | Portroe | Mike E. Smith / William I. Mott | 1 mile / 01:38.0 |
| 1990 | Richman | Pat Day / William I. Mott | 1 mile / 01:36.6 |
| 1989 | Insurrection | Patrick A. Johnson / Steven C. Penrod | 1 mile / 01:36.8 |
| 1988 | Dansil | Laffit Pincay Jr. / Frank L. Brothers | 1 mile / 01:38.2 |
| 1987 | Buoy | K. Keith Allen / Joseph M. Bollero | 1 mile / 01:37.8 |
| 1986 | Icetrain | Mike E. Smith / J. Bert Sonnier | 1 mile / 01:40.2 |
| 1985 | Tile | Pat Day / Steven C. Penrod | 1 mile / 01:37.2 |
| 1984 | Banner Bob | K. Keith Allen / Jerome J. Sarner Jr. | 1 mile / 01:37.6 |
| 1983 | Taylor's Special | Don Brumfield / William I. Mott | 1 mile / 01:37.2 |
| 1982 | Highland Park | Don Brumfield / Anthony Basile | 1 mile / 01:38.2 |