Rigney Racing's TDN Rising Star Jonathan's Way (Vekoma) went wire-to-wire in the GIII Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, earning the colt 10 qualifying points towards the GI Kentucky Derby. According to trainer Phil Bauer Sunday, the colt will now head to the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.
“It was an unbelievable day for our barn,” Bauer said. “Watching him turn for home in the Iroquois, he looked so comfortable on the front end. His ears told a story–he was just waiting for Joel [Rosario] to ask for more. And, really, Joel didn't have to push him much at all.”
The Ohio-bred earned TDN stardom after his impressive 4 1/4-length score going six panels at the Spa Aug. 17.
“For only his second start, he showed a lot of heart and gave us a new dimension in his running style. He cooled out great and was in perfect [Sunday] morning.”
Jonathan's Way is only the second horse that Bauer and Rigney Racing have had on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. The duo previously campaigned Another Lemon Drop, who finished fourth in the 2015 GIII Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds.
“We actually bought him as a weanling for $290,000 and we were thinking high things of this horse from the beginning,” Rigney said. “I have a great team behind me and I use John Moynihan as my bloodstock agent. The great thing about John is he's not looking at the page behind the horse but the physical attributes.”
Jonathan's Way's was broken by Barry Berkelhammer, who also holds the distinction of having broken Grade I-winning Ohio-bred Harlan's Holiday.
“Seeing him already reward us is surreal,” he added. “Being one of the favorites for both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby is a dream come true. This is the greatest sport in the world.”
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