Churchill Downs: See the fields for Kentucky Derby, Oaks preps

The Road to the Kentucky Derby will begin Saturday at Churchill Downs, where eight 2-year-olds, including impressive maiden winner Echo Again, were entered to face undefeated Grade 2 winner Damon’s Mound in the 41st running of the Grade 3, $300,000 Iroquois.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby, a series of select races that award a sliding scale of points to the top finishing positions, has determined preference for its 20-horse Kentucky Derby field since 2013. The 1 1/4-mile classic for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will be run at the Louisville, Ky., track on Saturday, May 6.

The 1 1/16-mile Iroquois was carded as Race 9 of 11 with a post time of 4:55 p.m. EDT. The race shares the Saturday spotlight with the $300,000 Pocahontas (G3, see below), $400,000 Locust Grove (G3), $300,000 Open Mind (Listed) and $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society. The five stakes will be run as the last five races on the card and compose an all-stakes 50-cent Pick 5.

Cliff and Michele Love’s homebred Damon’s Mound, the headliner in the Iroquois, is trainer Michelle Lovell’s first starter in a Kentucky Derby qualifying race. The Florida-bred son of Girvin dominated in his debut at Churchill Downs on July 2, demolishing a field of 10 rivals by 12 1/2 lengths. In his second start, Lovell shipped the homebred to Saratoga, where he defeated a field of four in the Saratoga Special (G2) by 3 1/4 lengths.

“He’s done everything right since we got him into our barn this spring,” Lovell said. “He has the mind of an older horse, and that’s what makes him so special. The Loves have been in this game for a very long time, and it’s very rewarding they are able to have a horse like him, especially being a homebred. The two turns in the Iroquois is obviously a test, but he’s passed his others we’ve given him with flying colors. I think this is the next progression to take.”

Damon’s Mound has done the majority of his training this summer at Colonial Downs but shipped to his home base of Churchill Downs on Tuesday to continue preparing for the Iroquois. Jockey Gabriel Saez will have the return mount from post No. 3.

The top rival to Damon’s Mound in the Iroquois is Winchell Thoroughbreds highly touted Saratoga maiden special weight winner Echo Again. The son of former Horse of the Year Gun Runner cruised to a 6 3/4-length debut score on Aug. 20 under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., who was filling in for regular pilot Joel Rosario.

“We’re extremely excited about who this horse is,” Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It’s a family affair. He came from mom and dad’s farm in Laredo, Texas. He was my son Erik’s favorite horse all winter and Keith’s favorite all summer. He gets on him regularly. It was a very meaningful victory.”

Rosario will be back aboard Echo Again and break from post 9.

Another 2-year-old with potential star power that was entered in the Iroquois is Jace’s Road. The son of Quality Road was a first-out winner on Aug. 6 at Ellis Park under jockey Joe Talamo. Trained by Brad Cox, Jace’s Road was a $510,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase in 2021. Jace’s Road will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post 6.

Naughty Gal, Justa Warrior meet in Pocahontas

Adirondack (G3) winner Naughty Gal was entered to face a full field of 11 rivals, including undefeated $125,000 Ellis Park Debutante winner Justa Warrior in Saturday’s $300,000 Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile Pocahontas kicks off the 2022-23 Road to the Kentucky Oaks. The Pocahontas was carded as the 11th race finale with a post time of 5:58 p.m.

Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Naughty Gal broke her maiden at second asking on July 4 at Churchill Downs by 9 1/4 lengths. One month later, the daughter of leading stallion Into Mischief became a graded-stakes winner when she led every step of the way in the 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack. Two weeks ago, Naughty Gal tested Grade 1 competition in the $300,000 Spinaway but faded to ninth. She’ll be ridden in the Pocahontas by Mitchell Murrill from post No. 3.

Justa Warrior, the daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify, is undefeated from two starts for Ellis Park leading trainer John Ortiz. In her debut, Justa Warrior drew away from a field of nine by five lengths under jockey Rey Gutierrez. Four weeks later, Justa Warrior was victorious by one-length in the Ellis Park Debutant as the 5-2 post time favorite. Gutierrez will be back aboard Justa Warrior in the Pocahontas and break from post 11.

The Pocahontas also includes impressive maiden winner Fun and Feisty for trainer Kenny McPeek.