Iroquois guide: Odds, PPs, insight for Kentucky Derby prep
A field of 11 has been assembled for the first Kentucky Derby 2025 points prep as Churchill Downs hosts the Grade 3, $300,000 Iroquois Stakes on Saturday.
Owen Almighty is the 5-2 betting favorite for the one-turn mile, which goes as race 10 of 11 at 5:29 p.m. EDT. First Resort, who was cross-entered to race in the Summer Stakes (G1) at Woodbine, was scratched from the Iroquois on Saturday morning. FanDuel TV and FS2 will have live coverage of the race.
Check out Horse Racing Nation’s free past performances page for downloadable PPs for the Iroquois and more, courtesy of our partners at Brisnet.
We also have Super Screener picks and analysis for the Iroquois as well as recent top speed figures for each contender.
Best speed figures
| Post | Horse | ML | Beyer | TimeformUS | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scr | First Resort | ||||
| 2 | Giocoso | 10-1 | 78 | 106 | 97 |
| 3 | Jack’s Time | 20-1 | 75 | 98 | 89 |
| 4 | Authentic Strike | 12-1 | 73 | 100 | 95 |
| 5 | Owen Almighty | 5-2 | 83 | 103 | 96 |
| 6 | Strummin | 12-1 | 74 | 91 | 80 |
| 7 | Sandman | 6-1 | 81 | 97 | 95 |
| 8 | Magnitude | 8-1 | 78 | 96 | 95 |
| 9 | Firmus | 20-1 | 69 | 90 | 84 |
| 10 | Jonathan’s Way | 9-2 | 85 | 101 | 90 |
| 11 | Mesero | 15-1 | 64 | 79 | 82 |
| 12 | Politicallycorrect | 6-1 | 76 | 99 | 90 |
Looking at the pace
Look for a fast pace in the one-turn, one-mile Iroquois with Jack’s Time hounded by First Resort and Authentic Strike.
Pace Projector appears courtesy of TimeformUS.
HRN picks
This week’s Super Screener has picked out Musical Mischief as a top value play in the Locust Grove (G2) on the Iroquois undercard at Churchill Downs.
“This filly has been very well managed with plenty of spacing between races, and she is improving, including posting a new lifetime top last out,” Mike Shutty said. “Form-cycle analysis results are projecting another two-point move forward here, which is good enough to land her in the winner’s circle at a fair price.”
Buy the special Now through Breeders’ Cup Super Screener package for just $97, a nearly $400 value, and get analysis for the Iroquois and more.
Ed DeRosa’s Iroquois fair odds believe favored Owen Almighty might go off as an overlay. Other primary contenders include Sandman, Jonathan's Way and Politicallycorrect.
DeRosa also took a look at an early Kentucky Oaks (G1) prep with his Pocahontas (G3) fair odds. See why he believes Kimchi Cat is the best bet on the board.
Woodbine Mile (G1) fair odds complete a trifecta of DeRosa look-aheads, and he’s taking a stab at a long shot at the rail over Naval Power and Filo Di Arianna.
For more Woodbine Mile odds and analysis, check out Matt Shifman’s free picks.
Laurie Ross & Ashley Tamulonis went head to head handicapping the Iroquois, and as you might expect in a race this wide open, they agreed on very little.
J. Keeler Johnson’s latest Horses to Watch column features Iroquois favorite Owen Almighty and some other stakes runners to consider this weekend.
Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen joined the Ron Flatter Racing Pod to discuss discusses long-range plans for CDI properties and much more.