Iroquois Stakes (Churchill Downs) race has been run at a distance of mile. The Iroquois (pronounced "Ear-Ah-Coy") is named for Iroquois, the first American horse to win the English Epsom Derby. Iroquois Stakes (Churchill Downs) The Iroquois Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race which is the first graded stakes race for Thoroughbred horses on opening day at the Churchill Downs Fall Meet. This first day every fall is devoted entirely to two-year-old racing. The race is a Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season qualifying race. The winner receives 10 points toward qualifying for the Kentucky Derby. Prior to 2013 the race was
Wise Dan Stakes event in 2002. The race was renamed as the Wise Dan Stakes in 2016 in honor of two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, who won the race in 2011 in his Turf Debut. The distance was changed from 8 furlongs to 8.5 furlongs at the same time. Wise Dan Stakes The Wise Dan Stakes, formerly known as the Firecracker Handicap, is an American thoroughbred horse race run annually on the turf course at Churchill Downs. The Grade II event is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one sixteenth of a mile and currently