With his Iroquois win, Spice Runner is on top in the early stages of the Road to the Kentucky Derby (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Winchell Thoroughbreds’ homebred Spice Runner is the early points leader on the 2026 “Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve” after the Gun Runner colt narrowly won Saturday’s 44th running of the $299,400 Iroquois (Grade III) for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs in thrilling fashion by running down 6-5 favorite Comport in the final jump. Vost was another five lengths back in third, Nothing Personal was fourth and Maximus Prime finished fifth.
Sent to post as the 5-1 third betting choice, Spice Runner ran one mile over a fast track in 1:36.59 under jockey Jose Ortiz for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who won the race for a record-equally fourth time. Earlier, Asmussen won the Iroquois with Thiskyhasnolimit (2009), Astrology (2010) and Lucky Player (2014).
Spice Runner banked the $177,525 first prize and 10 points on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” point system that will determine the field for next year’s 152nd Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on May 2, 2026 at Churchill Downs. The Iroquois was the first in a series of 36 select races on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby,” and the top five finishing positions earned points on a sliding scale of 10-5-3-2-1, respectively.
Breaking from post position No. 5 in field of 10 2-year-olds, Spice Runner changed tactics and relaxed just behind the pacesetters. Longshot No More Cents and Comport, who entered the race unbeaten including a two-length win over Spice Runner in the $200,000 Ellis Park Juvenile on Aug. 10, battled for the early lead through swift fractions of :22.69 and :46.06.
Spice Runner, unlike his last start where he battled for the early lead, tracked in fifth down backstretch but began to improve position when Comport took command midway around the turn. After six furlongs in 1:10.83, Comport opened up to a two-length advantage at the top of the stretch, but Spice Runner, outfitted in blinkers, was hitting his best stride despite wandering inward in mid-stretch. Comport had the lead nearly every step of the way but was passed on the outside by Spice Runner just before the finish to win by a narrow head.
“Last time I rode him we were a little too close to the pace,” Ortiz said. “Steve told me today to stay off the pace and let him relax. He really dug in late to get the job done. He was a little green late and switched to his left lead but he was still coming. I think we still haven’t reached the top with him. He can still improve mentally but he’s on the right track. I’m really excited for him.”
Spice Runner paid $12.38, $5.42 and $4.16. Comport, under Tyler Gaffalione, returned $2.80 and $2.42. Vost, with Florent Geroux up at odds of 5-1, paid $4.
Nothing Personal and Maximus Prime were fourth and fifth, respectively, and were followed by Shake and Rattle, Nine Ball, So Special, Sometime and No More Cents.
Spice Runner, a Kentucky-bred full-brother to Grade I winner Gunite who finished second in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI), improved his record to 4-2-1-0. His career earnings now total $293,170.
The bay colt was bred by Ron Winchell and is out of the Cowboy Cal mare Simple Surprise.
“He’s definitely got room to grow,” Asmussen said. “The tactics he set today was a good improvement. He traveled very nicely. We might have a little mental issue because I think there’s more there. He has to be ridden hard to get there. It didn’t look like he was going to go by at first then got a little more focused. It definitely appears the talent is there.”
The next races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby come Saturday, Oct. 4 with the $650,000 Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland; $500,000 Champagne (GI) at Aqueduct; and $300,000 American Pharoah (GI) at Santa Anita.
