Javier Castellano made a bold move with Major General on the far turn in the Grade 3 Iroquois, moving up quickly on the outside of horses to challenge front runner Stellar Tap entering the stretch. Under the Twin Spires, the son of Constitution dueled with Stellar Tap, took the lead in the final sixteenth of a mile, and held off Tough to Tame to win the G3 stakes by a neck and grab a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
In a crowded field of 10, Magnolia Midnight and Roger McQueen were one-two early, with Stellar Tap and Tough to Tame just back in third and fourth. Major General sat in the middle of the pack fifth on the backstretch, but Castellano in the white silks of WinStar Farm did not wait for the stretch to bid for the front, moving up quickly on the outside of the leaders as they entered the far turn. Just before the field hit the stretch, Stellar Tap took over the lead, with Major General to his outside, the two on even terms as they straightened out into the race's final furlongs.
In the Churchill Downs straight, Major General dug in, dueling with Stellar Tap and then pulling away late, his final surge enough to hold off surging Tough to Tame and Red Knobs in the race's last yards.
The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.88. Find this race's chart here.
Major General paid $11.80, $6.60, and $4.80. Tough to Tame paid $23.40 and $11.60. Red Knobs paid $9.00.
The G3 Iroquois is a Win and You're In race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The winner earns a fees-paid guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the corresponding race at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled for Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.
As an early prep race for the 2022 Kentucky Derby, Major General earns 10 points toward a spot in the starting gate for the Run for the Roses.
Bred by Circular Road Breeders, Major General is out of the Uncle Mo mare No Mo Lemons. He is trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by WinStar Farm and Siena Farm. With this win in the G3 Iroquois, Major General remains perfect in his short career, with two wins in two starts and career earnings of $232,525.
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