Iroquois (Grade 3)- $300.000 Purse
CD- For Two Year Olds
One Mile on the Dirt
September 14, 2024

This Saturday, we will see a group of promising two-year-olds which hope to make the BC Juvenile in a little less than two months and perhaps even return here on the first Saturday of May next year. It’s the 22nd running of the Iroquois, which is held at a mile and offers a $300.000 purse. That’s triple what it was at inception and the amount has been consistent since 2022. Some past winners of the race have gone on to make the KYD here as three-year-olds, though that’s just a nice long-term goal right now. For now, it’s about winning a big race and making the BC Juvenile. 2023 winner Puppy Plex, for Jive Inc, ended up running ninth in the BC. He’s been productive in overnights this year, but don’t rule him out from getting back to the graded level, perhaps very soon. Here’s a look at the field of nine:

1- T D Syndrome (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by A Beschizza)- Broke his maiden last month at RUI, winning by two lengths in his third start. There were a couple of firsts on him for that race, including going long for the first time while also using Bute. Looks like a horse that has been waiting for the opportunity to run long, and despite jumping up from RUI, I think he can be very competitive in here. Wish I could see a mile work, though.

2- Street Magician (Fractious, ridden by Mar Garcia)- The trainer has had many great buys in the auction, but this is one he wants to hold on to, so that alone says something. And who can blame him, as Street Magician won his first two races before being nominated into the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes. That was one of those cluster finishes where you need to look at how far off he was (only by a length), rather than his placing seventh. He’s going to go long for the first time, and like T D Syndrome, I think it’s going to go just fine, but not having a public mile work makes it a little harder to pick him over others that do.

3- Tuff Going (Winning Link Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- After getting his debut race out of the way, Tuff Going went on to win his next two, including the coveted $225.000 Bashford Manor on this racetrack at the end of June. He lit up the board that say at odds of 53/1 and would not be a high price when he appeared next at SAR, in the Grade 2 SAR Special. Unfortunately, he was unable to establish himself as a factor. Now, he’s going to stretch out for the first time, but again, like the two to his inside, he lacks a public mile work. With him, I would have wanted to see that a little more than with those other two.

4- Super Gremlin (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by J D Acosta)- Claimed by Luz International for $40.000 in July, but never raced for that one, and was placed into the recent auction. On Sunday, Maxmillion Farm’s bid of $10.210 got the job done, and since it’s so recent, we can still see the bid history and can note that no other big name pay track trainer was in on him. The gelding by Asterisk (a $1.00 sire that should be considered by small stables that only want to spend about that amount) is getting a big test right away. Can see him getting a piece of this.

5- What I Love To Do (Mb Stables, ridden by F Prat)- Another horse that briefly appeared in the Luz International barn, and was sold by that trainer for $75.000 just a few days after making his debut. With Mb Stables, What I Love To has one win in three starts but narrowly missed a head bob at the wire in the $200.000 Funny Cide a few weeks ago. He’s going to go long for the first time here, but we’re able to see a mile work on him, which was a strong effort at PRX last week.

6- Z Freak (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by J Lezcano)- Three months ago, Z Freak broke his maiden against CA-breds at SA and has been sitting idle ever since. It seems as though that patience has paid off with Z Freak, as the improvement trend in works is very noticeable, starting around July. Has some good turf works should that path be attempted in the future, but for now it is the main track. His last mile dirt work isn’t as good as other in here, but I sense that based on his improving trend, that he would be faster now.

7- Hunt For Phun (Asgar, ridden by R Bejarano)- This horse has just been waiting for the chance to go longer. At 7 ½ furlongs, he broke his maiden at RUI and opened up on the field in the stretch before winning by two lengths. Earlier this month, he worked exceptionally well at DMR, so Asgar will be hunting for more than just phun with this one, as there is plenty of upside with this one. Even if this race does not result in a win, don’t forget this name

8- Into Mischief (Alydar Stables, ridden by T Conner)- Won on debut right here in April, but after about three months, he would not race again for previous trainer Fractious, who ended up selling him in private sales for $350.000. With Alydar Stables, Into Mischief would reappear at the track in the $175.000 ELP Juvenile, a seven-furlong race, but turned in a subpar performance. Two-year-olds are entitled to a bad race, as frustrating as they may be, and after a month the trainer hopes for a better showing, and I don’t see why it couldn’t happen. Wish I could see a public mile work, though. I’ve said that a few times in this race, for sure!

9- Intergration (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by M E Smith)- This one is still a maiden, and was a non-factor at SAR last time out at seven furlongs three weeks ago. His last public work was a strong mile showing at the beginning of August, but that dud at SAR came after that. While a maiden can win a race like this, I would want to have seen him be more competitive at SAR. He would not be here if the trainer didn’t feel good about him, but I would not be able to pick him here.

Prediction: 7-5-4-2

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES