LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After Jonathan's Way overcame trouble for a dominant maiden victory last month at Saratoga, circling the field after being pinched back at the break, trainer Phil Bauer liked what he began seeing from the colt in the morning.
"With 2-year-olds, it's a light-bulb moment a lot of times," Bauer said. "You could tell, after his first race, he knew what the game's about. Just started training a little more forwardly in the mornings, and we came in with a ton of confidence."
The future looks bright for Jonathan's Way, who rewarded that confidence by maturely rating kindly on the lead and kicking clear for a 2 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $300,000 Iroquois Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
The Iroquois was the first race awarding points toward a spot in the starting gate for next May’s Kentucky Derby, on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top finishers.
Jonathan's Way ($4.52), an Ohio-bred son of freshman sire Vekoma, was sent away favored in the colors of Rigney Racing off his impressive debut victory. That day, the colt came from off the pace by necessity. But on Saturday, when no others took initiative, Joel Rosario let Jonathan’s Way, who broke from post 9 in the field of 11 starters, roll up to take command in the run out of the chute for the one-turn mile. The colt rated kindly through an opening quarter of 23.21 seconds on the fast track despite being prompted by Jack’s Time, then continued to roll through the half-mile in 46.62 as Magnitude took up the chase. Giocoso loomed a danger in the far turn, but Jonathan’s Way repelled that one as well, and opened up a three-length lead when shaken up into the stretch. He kept on well to the wire while never seriously threatened.
“Joel, he’s a great rider for a reason,” Bauer said. “When they break sharp, you try not to take anything away from them, and nobody else went, so he just rated him along and punched him home.”
Jonathan's Way stopped the clock in 1:36.08 for the mile.
Second choice Owen Almighty, winner of the Ellis Park Juvenile last month, raced in contention while between horses in the early going, cut wide into the stretch, and was a clear second, 4 1/4 lengths clear of Giocoso.
“He had a little bit of a rough trip down the backside and I think he’s going to get a lot out of that,” trainer Brian Lynch said. “We were just second best to an extremely nice horse today.”
The top three were followed, in order, by Mesero, Sandman, Jack's Time, Magnitude, Strummin, Authentic Strike, Firmus, and Politicallycorrect.
Earlier in the evening, La Cara ($12.72) rallied to the win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Pocahontas Stakes, the sister race to the Iroquois. The race awarded points toward the 2025 Kentucky Oaks on the same 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
La Cara and Ricardo Santana Jr., were seventh in a full field of 14 fillies at the midway point of the Pocahontas, as up front, Ellis Park Debutante winner Stilettos led through a pressured opening half in 46.33. As that one began to retreat around the far turn, Liam in the Dust, who had been tracking in third, ranged up and took command. But La Cara had tipped six wide for the stretch run, and came to the new leader midway down the lane. She edged clear for a half-length victory, with Icona Mama just another head back in third.
The final time for the mile was 1:37.82.
After the top three came Pretty Sure, Atomic City, Empirical Mischief, Strong State, Hearts United, Chattanooga Crew, Stilettos, Quinn's Promise, West Memorial, Lady Kathryn, and Kimchi Cat.
La Cara appears to be headed in the right direction as thisdivision gears up for major fall races. The Street Sense filly, a homebred for Tracy Farmer and trained by Mark Casse, got learning experiences in her first three starts while facing future stakes winners Vodka With a Twist and Kimchi Cat. La Cara got away much sharper in her fourth start, going seven furlongs at Saratoga, and was hand-ridden home to win by eight lengths. Now she has put together back-to-back strong races.
“It was a great effort by her today to back up her maiden win at Saratoga,” said assistant trainer Allen Hardy, who deputized for Casse as the barn also had a busy day at Woodbine. “We got her back at the Churchill string a couple weeks ago and she’s been impressing us each day training into this race.”
While the Iroquois and Pocahontas were not Win and You're In automatic qualifiers toward their respective Breeders' Cup divisions, the races are both part of the "Dirt Dozen" program, a series of races where the top three finishers earn bonus which can be utilized toward pre-entry and entry fees toward the Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies, respectively. Those races will be held Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
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