Iroquois guide: 1st step on long road to Kentucky Derby 2026

We believe it is never too early to talk Derby at Horse Racing Nation. The Grade 3, $300,000 Iroquois kicks off the road to Kentucky Derby 2026 on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

A field of 10 2-year-old colts will go one mile on the dirt under the famous twin spires in pursuit of the 10-5-3-2-1 points that could make or break their chances of making the gate on the first Saturday in May.

At this journey’s starting point, Comport is the buzz horse. The son of Collected comes off a win the the Ellis Park Juvenile. Before that the Eddie Kenneally trainee broke his maiden and then ran second to Romeo in the Bashford Manor, both at Churchill.

Spice Runner out of the Steve Asmussen barn finished second to Comport in the Ellis Park Juvenile. The son of Gun Runner also broke his maiden at Churchill and was fifth in the Bashford Manor.

Nine Ball, Vost and So Special come into the Iroquois off maiden wins at Ellis Park. Nothing Personal enters off a maiden score at Colonial. Sometime finished third in the Jamestown Stakes at Colonial. No More Cents is an Ohio-bred and comes in off a third-place finish in the Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes at Thistledown. Shake and Rattle is the most experienced colt in the field with five starts on his résumé. Maximus Prime is winless in three starts. More about each of these entrants is here. 

The Iroquois is race 8, post time 4:26 p.m. EDT. 

Also Saturday, the $300,000 Pocahontas (G3) is the first points prep for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), and the one-mile test drew seven 2-year-old fillies. It also offers 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers. Trainer Brittany Russell brings Dazzling Dame, winner of the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park. Trainer Kenny McPeek has two maiden winners, Taken by the Wind and Our Two Girls, ready for the Pocahontas. Get a rundown of the field here.

The Pocahontas is race 6, post time 3:21 p.m. EDT.

Coverage of Churchill Downs is on FanDuel TV.

Free past performances for the Iroquois and Pocahontas are courtesy of Brisnet. 

Iroquois top lifetime speed figures

*Beyer and TimeformUS speed figures are presented courtesy of Daily Racing Form.

HRN handicappers

Before you make your first bet at Churchill Downs this meet, know that wagering success has gone through Brad Cox. HRN’s Ed DeRosa is looking for an upset in the Iroquois. 

"Nothing Personal scored on debut from off the pace, fanning wide and drawing off to an 8 3/4-length score to pay $10.20," DeRosa said. "The runner-up came back to win his next race. Trainer Greg Compton is 0-for-3 in stakes at Churchill Downs, and this would be his first graded-stakes win anywhere. I mention this not because I don’t think he is capable but because I think that means we’ll get our price."

Learn more about this Colonial Downs shipper in DeRosa’s fair-odds story. 

HorseCenter’s Matt Shifman and Brian Zipse are eager to start the Kentucky Derby trail. In this week’s edition, they take a deep dive into the Iroquois and Pocahontas and bring up expert tips to play these early points preps. 

The first Kentucky Derby prep has drawn talented runners, but it doesn’t feature the top colt in the division. See who it is in this week’s division rankings. 

Will Churchill bettors embrace a Delaware shipper in the Pocahontas? DeRosa hopes not. 

On the Ron Flatter Racing Pod, Churchill Downs analyst Kaitlin Free previews the Iroquois, and trainer Eddie Kenneally gives the inside scoop on morning-line favorite Comport. DeRosa has handicapping tips for the Iroquois and Pocahontas as well as the Woodbine Mile. Listen here. 

Head to Head handicappers Laurie Ross and Ashley Tamulonis don’t agree on the Iroquois winner, but they do agree on how the favorite will fare. 

Trainer Brittany Russell says her Pocahontas entrant Dazzling Dame "has earned her shot." Find out why in this new interview. 

HRN rankings are in parentheses. Asterisk denotes early figure subject to update.