It may be the third Saturday in September but visions of the first Saturday in May will be blooming when the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs serves as the first points race for the 2024 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

A total of 21 points will be up for grabs, allocated in a 10-5-3-2-1 manner to the top five finishers. The Grade 3 stakes is also part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen and will award the connections of the top-three finishers money toward their starting fees for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

1. Liberal Arts (20-1 morning-line): One of those juveniles who is intriguing in a spot like this. He’s gotten better with each start at a longer distance. Looked good breaking his maiden at Ellis Park and will get an acid test for class here.

JOCKEY: Cristian Torres; TRAINER: Robbie Medina

2. West Saratoga (8-1): Needed five tries to break his maiden and finally did when he tried a mile for the first time. His winning time was sharp but it was a big improvement over his previous effort. Looks like a candidate for a bounce.

JOCKEY: Rafael Bejarano; TRAINER: Larry Demeritte

3. Union Roll (5-1): Won easily in his debut at Monmouth Park, though the time was on the slow side. Hails from a top barn and cannot be ignored for that fact alone.

JOCKEY: Gerardo Corrales; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher            

4. Edified (8-1): Was a trouble fifth in the Herb Moelis Memorial Saratoga Special Stakes. Deserves a second chance here based on a solid debut win at Ellis Park for trainer Steve Asmussen.

JOCKEY: Ricardo Santana Jr.; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

5. Market Street (8-1): Didn’t care for turf last time out, so draw a line through that one. Was second for legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas in the Saratoga Special after setting the pace but lost by 9 1/2 lengths with no major excuses.

JOCKEY: Gabriel Saez; TRAINER: D. Wayne Lukas

6. Seize the Grey (10-1): D. Wayne Lukas’ second starter was third in the Skidmore Stakes but that was an off-the-turf event on a muddy track. If it rains Saturday, give him extra attention.

JOCKEY: Jaime Torres; TRAINER: D. Wayne Lukas

7. Gettysburg Address (12-1): Staged a promising debut win at Ellis Park. Comes from a barn with a strong track record for developing Triple Crown candidates so there are significant reasons to believe he can take a big step forward here with Flavien Prat in the saddle.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Brad Cox

Risk It winning debut at Saratoga. (Eclipse Sportswire)

8. Risk It (2-1): Showed plenty of speed in recording a debut win at Saratoga Race Course in fast time. Has the pedigree and connections to stretch out and handle this one-turn mile. Seems a worthy favorite.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

9. Patriot Spirit (7-2): Won easily in his debut at Colonial Downs in fast time and breezed in blazing fractions for this. Would tend to think Colonial generates fast times but it’s hard to discount a :58 workout and 1:23.03 seven-furlong win. Much more will be known about him after this.

JOCKEY: Jesus Castanon; TRAINER: Michael Campbell

THE PICK: Risk It 

LIVE LONGSHOT: Gettysburg Address

SUPERFECTA: 8-9-7-4