The Iroquois Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the dirt scheduled annually in September at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $300,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on 6 November 1982. It was won by the improving Highland Park who was having tenth start of his juvenile career and guided by US Hall of Fame jockey Donald Brumfield by a margin of 6 lengths over the one mile distance in a time of 1:38.

The event is named for Iroquois, the first American horse to win the English Epsom Derby who in turn was named for the Native American tribe, the Iroquois.

In 199,0 the event was classified as Grade III.

In 2013, the distance for the event was increased to mile. In 2020 and 2023 the event was decreased back to 1 mile.

The race opens the Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season. The winner receives 10 points toward qualifying for the Kentucky Derby.The event is also a "Win and You're In" race in the Breeders' Cup Challenge series.

Records Speed record 1 mile: 1:35.00 – Sittin On Go (2020) miles: 1:43.58 – Dennis' Moment (2019)

Margins lengths – Not This Time (2016)

Most wins by a jockey 4 – Pat Day (1985, 1990, 1997, 2002)

Most wins by a trainer 4 – William I. Mott (1983, 1990, 1991, 2007) 4 – Dale Romans (2013, 2016, 2019, 2020) 4 – Steven M. Asmussen (2009, 2010, 2014, 2025)

Most wins by an owner 2 – William Lucas (1983, 1990) 2 – Claiborne Farm (1985, 1999) 2 – Stonestreet Stables (2006, 2010) 2 – Albaugh Family Stables (2019, 2020) 2 – WinStar Farm (2007, 2021)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026SalahudinJose L. OrtizBob BaffertZedan Racing Stables1 mile1:36.54$300,000III2025Spice Runner Jose L. OrtizSteven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds1 mile 1:36.59$299,400 III2024Jonathan's Way Joel RosarioPhilip Bauer Rigney Racing 1 mile 1:36.08$254,745III2023West SaratogaRafael BejaranoLarry DemeritteHarry L. Veruchi1 mile 1:37.28$300,000III2022Curly JackEdgar MoralesThomas M. AmossMichael McLoughlin miles1:45.62$299,250III2021Major GeneralJavier CastellanoTodd PletcherWinStar Farm and Siena Farm miles1:44.88$300,000III2020Sittin On GoCorey LanerieDale L. RomansAlbaugh Family Stables1 mile1:35.00$200,000III2019Dennis' MomentIrad Ortiz Jr.Dale L. RomansAlbaugh Family Stables miles1:43.58$150,000III2018Cairo CatBrian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth G. McPeekWalking L Thoroughbreds miles1:45.35$150,000III2017The TabulatorJose Valdivia Jr.Larry RivelliCarolyn Wilson miles1:45.50$150,000III2016Not This TimeRobby AlbaradoDale L. RomansAlbaugh Family Stables miles1:45.22$150,000III2015Cocked and LoadedLarry RivelliRichard Ravin & Patricia's Hope miles1:44.94$150,000III2014Lucky PlayerRicardo Santana Jr.Steven M. AsmussenJerry Durant miles1:45.76$115,500III2013CleburneCorey J. LanerieDale L. Romans Donegal Racing miles1:45.65$173,500III2012UncapturedMiguel MenaMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley1 mile1:37.63$119,800III2011Motor CityCalvin H. BorelIan R. WilkesLantern Hill Farm 1 mile1:37.18$110,700III2010AstrologyGarrett K. GomezSteven M. AsmussenStonestreet Stables & George Bolton1 mile1:38.43$122,300III2009ThiskyhasnolimitShaun BridgmohanSteven M. AsmussenCathy & Bob Zollars & Mark Wagner 1 mile1:37.36$120,800III2008Julien R. LeparouxIan R. WilkesJoseph Rauch & David Zell1 mile1:35.16$111,100III2007Court VisionJulien R. LeparouxWilliam I. MottWinStar Farm1 mile1:37.26$171,150III2006Tiz WonderfulGarrett K. GomezScott BlasiStonestreet Stables1 mile1:35.92$110,900III2005CatcominatchaRafael BejaranoEddie KenneallyThomas M. McCann1 mile1:36.38$116,700III2004Straight LineBrice BlancHarvey L. VanierNancy A. Vanier & Cartwright Thoroughbreds 1 mile1:36.62$109,600III2003The Cliff's EdgeShane SellersNicholas P. ZitoRobert V. LaPenta1 mile1:35.57$113,700III2002ChampaliPat DayGregory D. FoleyLloyd Madison Farms IV 1 mile1:37.06$114,200III2001Harlan's HolidayAnthony J. D'AmicoKenneth G. McPeekStarlight Stable 1 mile1:35.01$113,200III2000MeetyouathebrigGary L. StevensW. Elliott WaldenMansell Stables & James H. Stone1 mile1:35.24$124,300III1999MightyMarlon St. JulienFrank L. BrothersClaiborne Farm & Adele B Dilschneider 1 mile1:35.88$110,900III1998ExploitChris McCarronBob BaffertRobert & Beverly Lewis1 mile1:36.26$114,700III1997Keene DancerPat DayDavid M. CarrollTri County Farm 1 mile1:37.84$111,100III1996Global ViewKenneth BourqueJames O. KeeferWilliam Heiligbrodt, Ted Keefer & W. (Buddy) New1 mile1:36.49$110,000III1995IdeCraig PerretPeter M. VestalWillmott Stables1 mile1:36.89$113,300III1994PeruvianJosé A. SantosPeter M. VestalDogwood Stable1 mile1:36.68$118,500III1993Tarzans BladeBrent E. BartramSteven L. MorguelanDr. William E. Yancey, William D. Yancey & Tommy Sandefur1 mile1:37.00$117,300III1992Shoal CreekBrent E. BartramLoblolly Stable1 mile1:37.51$117,500III1991PortroeMike E. SmithWilliam I. MottSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum1 mile1:37.96$117,800III1990RichmanPat DayWilliam I. MottWilliam Lucas1 mile1:36.60$56,350III 1989InsurrectionPatrick A. JohnsonSteven C. PenrodPaul Bryan1 mile1:36.80$57,500 1988DansilLaffit Pincay Jr.Frank L. BrothersJohn A. Franks1 mile1:38.20$56,150 1987BuoyK. Keith AllenJoseph M. BolleroLois Bollero1 mile1:37.80$51,630 1986IcetrainMike E. SmithJ. Bert SonnierNelson Bunker Hunt1 mile1:40.20$53,750 1985TilePat DaySteven C. PenrodClaiborne Farm1 mile1:37.20$54,9601984Banner BobK. Keith AllenJerome J. Sarner Jr.Sharon & William J. Walsh1 mile1:37.60$30,000 1983Taylor's SpecialDon BrumfieldWilliam I. MottWilliam Lucas1 mile1:37.20$29,800 1982Highland ParkDon BrumfieldAnthony BasileBwamazon Farm (Millard Waldheim)1 mile1:38.20$29,375

See also Road to the Kentucky Derby List of American and Canadian Graded races

References