The still-maturing Salahudin scored a come-from-behind win in Saturday’s $300,000 Iroquois S. (G3) at Churchill Downs, keeping the record of the Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. colt intact and earning him the first 10 points on the Road to the 2027 Kentucky Derby (G1).
As part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series, the Iroquois also awarded $30,000 to the winner, to be applied toward entry fees for the Oct. 30 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
After summering at Ellis Park, where Salahudin broke his maiden and won the Ellis Park Juvenile, the 2-year-old was the even-money favorite in the one-mile Iroquois. He broke slow and was near the back of the seven-horse field after the first half-mile. He raced very wide around the turn and still managed to make up considerable ground to be within a length of the lead turning for home. Racing down the middle of the stretch, Salahudin hit the front with a furlong to go and held off He Is No Lie to win by a half-length.
“He’s a true mile-and-a-quarter kind of horse,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “Turning for home, I’m glad he didn’t make the lead too early, because he’ll do that, he’ll idle a little bit. But it’s just perfect progression the way he’s going. He’s still growing and still learning, so it’s exciting.”
Salahudin sold to his owner for $325,000 at the 2025 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling sale and has earned $392,172 in his three victories.
