Churchill Down’s 2021 fall meet is underway and this Saturday’s race card features three major graded events for horse bettors.
The $400,000 Locust Grove Stakes is a Grade 3 event open to fillies and mares three and older. The Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes has a total prize purse of $300,000 and it will feature some up and coming two-year old juvenile fillies.
The featured betting event at Churchill this Saturday is the 2021 Iroquois Stakes as an early prep race for juvenile thoroughbreds on the 2022 Kentucky Derby Trail.
2021 Iroquois Stakes Predictions
When: Saturday, September 18th 2021
Where: Churchill Downs
This Grade 3 stakes race is open to two-year old thoroughbreds. The total prize purse for this year’s Iroquois Stakes has been set at $300,000. The race will be contested on the dirt track at Churchill covering 1 1/16 miles in total distance.
The field for Saturday’s featured event is still coming together. Horse Racing Nation has listed eight juvenile contenders as probable representing a few high-profile trainers. Below is a quick look at my top three colts in this race.
Learn How to Bet on Win, Place and Show Wagers
Win Bet
My top two-year old in this race would be trainer Steve Asmussen’s Stellar Tap. Following a recent victory in a Maiden Special Weight Race at Saratoga on Aug. 7, his HRN rating is now posted at 6.90. The Kentucky-bred colt covered the seven furlongs on dirt in 1:23.82 past Keepcalmcarryon and Immokalee.
That was the first race of his young career and he handled that shorter distance with ease. Stepping up to the 1 1/16 miles distance on Saturday should not be a problem for the sire of Tapit. With a win in the graded Iroquois, Steller Tap would be added to the early watch list for 2022 Kentucky Derby contenders given his strong pedigree.
Place Bet
As far as my second choice for Saturday, I have been impressed with O Captain. Trained by Gustavo Delgado, this two-year old Kentucky-bred colt placed first at Gulfstream in a 5½ furlong Maiden Special Weight race on Aug. 14. This early effort has earned him a 5.12 rating by HRN. His winning time on dirt was 1:05.27 moving past Zippin Gigi and Chromed Impulse.
The added distance in this race should be a good test among this young but talented field. The son of Carpe Diem also has a strong pedigree and the ability to move up in the rankings with a strong showing on Saturday. He should keep things competitive against Stellar Tap in his bid for second place.
Show Bet
Digging through the rest of the projected eight horse field, my choice to round out a trifecta play would be Major General with a HRN rating of 4.84. This is tied for the third-highest rating among Saturday’s probable lineup. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the son of Constitution is another first- time winner right out of the gate.
The Kentucky-bred colt placed first in a 6½ furlong Maiden Special Weight race at Saratoga on Aug. 21. He covered that distance on dirt in 1:16.69 past Bourbon Heist and Fan the Fire.
Showing solid speed over the course of that sprint, he will be pressed to carry it all the way to the finish line over the full 1 1/16 miles. However, he has the pedigree to remain competitive with the top two colts in Saturday’s field.
