Salahudin Heads Iroquois as Derby Point Series Begins

The 2027 Kentucky Derby (G1) is still eight months away, but the Road to the Kentucky Derby begins Sept. 12 when the points series kicks off in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. Also that afternoon, the Road to the Kentucky Oaks starts with the Pocahontas Stakes (G3).

Both races are worth $300,000 and contested over a one-turn mile on the Churchill Downs main track. They are among five stakes on the Saturday program.

Six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert, who has maintained a full-time string in Kentucky since the spring, has the favorite in Zedan Racing Stables' Salahudin🔥 , a product of Baffert's expansion to the Bluegrass State. Salahudin won both of his starts at Ellis Park this summer.

Named a BloodHorse Hot Prospect after a 2-length debut victory over 6 1/2 furlongs July 17, he ran even better second out by romping by 4 1/2 lengths in the Aug. 9 Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes over an additional sixteenth. Florent Geroux, aboard for both wins, has a return ride Saturday.

The son of Uncle Mo is untested at the Iroquois distance, along with seven other juveniles in the nine-horse field. Only Real Goodbar , whose lone start was a debut win on turf this summer at Colonial Downs for trainer Kenny McPeek, is a winner at a mile.

The opposition is headed by Blessed Flyer  and He Is No Lie —1-2 in the Bashford Manor Stakes late in the spring meet at Churchill—and Caribbean Life🔥 , who was named a BloodHorse Hot Prospect after his debut win this summer at Ellis Park.

Minimal Kentucky Derby qualifying points are up for grabs in the Iroquois with its top-five finishers earning points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.

More valuable in the short term are the credits the top-three finishers receive for the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. 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 show finisher to apply toward entry fees for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Also part of the Dirt Dozen, the Pocahontas top three will earn the same awards to be applied to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Scarlett Begonia Poised to Blossom

In the Pocahontas, another BloodHorse Hot Prospect—Hat Creek Racing, Ashview Farm, and Upland Flats Racing's Scarlett Begonia🔥 —takes another crack at grade 3 stakes company after a third-place finish in the Aug. 2 Adirondack Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course, which followed a July 6 debut victory at Ellis Park.

Flavien Prat rides the Brad Cox-trained daughter of Life Is Good🔥  .

The likely favorite is Manuka Honey , who is 2-for-2 after demolishing the Ellis Park Debutante Stakes opposition last month. Trained by Brian Lynch, the daughter of Upstart   won her Churchill Downs debut June 20 by 7 1/4 lengths. 

Debutante Stakes winner Pierette  and 6-length maiden winner Miss Anna  are further contenders.

The Pocahontas distributes qualifying points toward the 2027 Kentucky Oaks on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis.