Curly Jack Kicks off Road To The Kentucky Derby With Iroquois Win

LOUISVILLE, Ky.— The highway to the 2023 Kentucky Derby kicked off on Saturday at Churchill Downs with the forty first working of the Grade 3, $300,000 Iroquois, received by Michael McLoughlin’s Curly Jack.

Breaking easily from publish place 5, the Tom Amoss trainee discovered himself a part of a slightly tight pack heading into the clubhouse flip, winding up sixth only a half-length off of the tempo. In a change of ways, Grade 2 winner Damon’s Mound was setting stated tempo, racing by way of a pointy quarter in 23.53. After the half in 47.48, closely favored Saratoga maiden winner Echo Once more began to place the stress on, and he and Damon’s Mound started knocking heads.

Whereas the aforementioned duo drew away, shoulder to shoulder rounding the far flip, Curly Jack and jockey Edgar Morales had been making their bid, gaining 4 huge outdoors of rivals. The favorites started to weaken and an onslaught of closers poured on, Curly Jack clear by a size by midstretch.

Jace’s Highway and Honed challenged gamely from both facet of the brand new chief however Curly Jack held them off, sustaining a size benefit as he stopped the clock in 1:45.62 over the quick primary observe. He earned himself 10 qualifying factors in direction of the 2023 Kentucky Derby.

Honed bought up for second over Jace’s Highway. Rounding out the order of end had been Hayes Strike, Confidence Sport, Damon’s Mound, Echo Once more, Jin Tong, and Zaici. 

The payoffs for the highest three finishers had been 23.66, 31.08, and three.74, respectively.

In his most up-to-date begin previous to the Iroquois, Curly Jack had been a slender runner-up to High Recruit within the Ellis Park Juvenile. Ending a distant fourth in that race was Frosted Departure, who just lately dominated an allowance non-obligatory claiming discipline at Churchill Downs. 

Curly Jack, a two-year-old son of freshmen stallion Good Magic, grew to become the second graded stakes winner for his sire along with his Iroquois victory, alongside Grade 2 Sorrento winner Vegas Magic. 

Coach Tom Amoss picked out Curly Jack on the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for Michael McLoughlin. They took the colt dwelling for $180,000, which he has practically doubled. 

By Amber Joyce, Contributing Editor

Picture: Curly Jack pulls off the upset within the Grade 3 Iroquois (Coady Pictures)