Derby Trail Begins with Owen Almighty Leading Iroquois

After beginning his career with two impressive victories, Owen Almighty  is looking to take another step forward in the $300,000 Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs Sept. 14.

Owned by Travis Boersma's Flying Dutchmen, Owen Almighty has earned $174,760 through his first two starts and picked up a stakes victory in the seven-furlong Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes Aug. 11.

"He showed talent from the very get-go. He's always given us plenty of hope that there was something there," said trainer Brian Lynch. "He's got his fair share of God-gifted talent."

The race will be conducted out of the track's one-mile chute, a first start at the distance for the colt who breaks from post 5 with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons.

"He seems like a horse that will stretch out," Lynch said. "Being by Speightstown, you'd think he's probably not bred to get two turns (in future starts), but I have a feeling that he will."

The Australian trainer has high hopes for the future and is hoping for a big effort Saturday to push the colt toward the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 1. As part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series, the Iroquois will award $30,000 to the winner, $15,000 to the runner-up, and $7,500 to the third-place finisher to apply toward entry fees for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

In addition, the Iroquois kicks off the Road to the Kentucky Derby, awarding the top five finishers qualifying points to the May 3 race on a scale of 10-5-3-2-1.

"If he was to run as we are hoping he will this weekend, then (the Breeders' Cup) would be the next step for sure," Lynch said. "This would be a real breakthrough race for him if he were to get it done."

Among his chief challengers are Politicallycorrect , winner of the Bashford Manor Stakes and second to Owen Almighty at Ellis Park, and First Resort , runner-up in the Aug. 10 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. They drew the far outside and rail positions, respectively.

The other nine entrants are all last-out maiden winners searching for where they belong.

"We have to run and see if we're good enough," said Wayne Catalano, trainer of Firmus , who breaks from post 9. "We're gonna see what kind of horse he is."

The son of Curlin   owned by Coffeepot Stables debuted with a 1 1/4-length win going six furlongs at Ellis Park Aug. 24, a race in which Catalano said he was only cranked up "75-80%."

"It was just what I wanted, get a race under him," Catalano said. "He's going to stretch out, that's what he wants to do."

Mark Casse-trained Sandman  enters with the best last-out Equibase Speed Figure, posting a 91 while breaking his maiden at Saratoga Aug. 10. The Tapit   colt was a $1.2 million purchase at the Ocala Breeders' March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training by West Point Thoroughbreds, D. J. Stable, and CJ Stables. They are also joined in ownership by St. Elias Stable.

Rigney Racing's Jonathan's Way  rallied for a 4 1/4-length debut win Aug. 17 at Saratoga after bumping and losing position at the start. The Vekoma   colt went six furlongs in 1:10.40. He was a $290,000 weanling purchase at the 2022 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and is trained by Phil Bauer.

Randle Glosso's Strummin  is the lone entrant with a victory over the one-mile distance, although Rocker O Ranch's Giocoso  won his last start going 1 1/16 miles on the Ellis Park turf. None of the other 10 have raced the distance.

The Iroquois is race 10 with post time at 5:29 p.m. ET.

Oaks Trail Begins With Pocahontas

The fillies will also have an important stepping stone Saturday as an overflow field of 14 prepares for the $300,000 Pocahontas Stakes (G3). Like the Iroquois, the Pocahontas is part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen (for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, G1) and kicks off the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

Mark and Lori Collinsworth's Stilettos  holds the hot hand off a 16 3/4-length romp in her June 29 debut at Lone Star Park and 1 1/2-length victory in the Ellis Park Debutante Aug. 11.

Trained by Bret Calhoun, the homebred daughter of Upstart   had bad luck at the draw, receiving post 12. The other stakes winners didn't fare much better; Bolton Landing Stakes winner Kimchi Cat  drew the 13 while Kentucky Juvenile Stakes winner West Memorial  is in the 11.

One of three fillies to race the mile distance, Baron Thoroughbreds' Quinn's Promise  is the lone winner, having broken her maiden by a neck over a muddy Ellis track July 29.

Highlander Training Center's Strong State  emerges from the toughest contest of the fillies in the field, finishing fourth in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Aug. 11

Like the Iroquois, as part of the Dirt Dozen the Pocahontas will award $30,000 to the winner, $15,000 to the runner-up, and $7,500 to the third-place finisher to apply toward entry fees for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

The Pocahontas is race 8, with a post time at 4:25 p.m. ET.