Churchill Downs saw Gun Runner’s progeny continue its dominance as Spice Runner captured the GIII Iroquois Stakes Saturday, securing the first points on the Road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
The Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC homebred, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, edged out Comport by a head in the one-mile contest that awards points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale toward the 2026 GI Kentucky Derby starting gate.
Spice Runner completed the mile in 1:36.59 under jockey Jose Ortiz, who timed his move perfectly as the colt split horses turning for home before reeling in Comport in the final strides.
“He’s definitely got room to grow,” Asmussen said after the race. “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 victory came at a fitting moment for Gun Runner, whose yearlings topped the first four days of the ongoing Keeneland September sale. Spice Runner represents the stallion’s 46th black-type winner and 31st graded stakes winner from just five racing crops.
Ohio-bred No More Cents and Comport set the early pace, posting fractions of :22.69 and :46.06 while Spice Runner settled in midpack. As the field turned for home, Ortiz guided his mount through traffic, and despite switching to his wrong lead down the stretch, Spice Runner found another gear to secure the victory.
Comport, who had bested Spice Runner in their two previous meetings, finished second for owner Joseph W. Sutton and trainer Eddie Kenneally. Vost, a maiden winner by Instagrand, claimed third, while ‘TDN Rising Star’ Nothing Personal finished fourth.
The victory marked a significant improvement for Spice Runner, who won his debut at Churchill Downs in May before finishing off the board behind $1.7-million Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age topper Romeo and Comport in the June 29 Bashford Manor Stakes. He subsequently finished second to Comport in the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes on August 10.
Spice Runner is a full-brother to multiple Grade I winner Gunite, victor of the GI Forego Stakes and GI Hopeful Stakes. Both are out of Simple Surprise, a Winchell homebred who produced another full-brother to the pair on February 16 and was bred back to Into Mischief for next term.
The colt joins undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ and GI Del Mar Futurity winner Brant and unbeaten Blue Hen Stakes winner Jumping the Gun as Gun Runner’s third 2-year-old stakes winner this summer.
Spice Runner is on the Road to the Kentucky Derby! https://t.co/JY0vEeEgMb
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns)
Spice Runner is on the Road to the Kentucky Derby! https://t.co/JY0vEeEgMb
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) September 13, 2025
