America's Best Racing. The Jockey Club.

Sunday’s opening day “Stars of Tomorrow” card at Churchill Downs, featuring 11 races for 2-year-olds, is one of my favorites of the year. You never know what promising young Thoroughbred will be unleashed. Stars of Tomorrow has produced numerous graded stakes winners, including 27 Grade 1 winners, the likes of which include 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver, 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and this year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Believe You Can. 

The Iroquois Stakes (G3) for the boys lured a field of ten. With Lasix banned for Breeders’ Cup 2-year-old participants, high profile owner Mike Repole made a decision to skip the event, therefore his Futurity Stakes (G2) winner Overanalyze pops up here. Fourth in the Hopeful Stakes (G2) behind probable Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) favorite Shanghai Bobby, his score in the Futurity was quite professional, and the one-turn mile should be right up his alley.

An easy winner of the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) despite racing greenly down the stretch, Pataky Kid returned to finish a deceivingly good fourth in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1). He got discouraged chasing the talented, gate-to-wire winner Joha but still ran on gamely. He posted a pair of useful workouts since the race, and the addition of blinkers may be just what the doctor ordered.

Uncaptured and Five Iron both exit fast races in Canada. The former rattled off four wins in a row to begin his career, including a sharp score over the latter in the Swynford Stakes. Hammered down to odds of 2-5 in the Grey Stakes (Can-G3), he endured a nightmare trip and crossed the line fifth. He posted a useful workout at Churchill and has every right to bounce back.

A maiden sprint winner at Churchill in June, the late-running Positively has since run second in the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) and a close-up seventh in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1). He fired a bullet workout in advance of Saturday’s assignment, and Churchill Downs king Calvin Borel knows him well.

The mad bomber in the Iroquois could be Agave Cat. His maiden-breaking debut win in an Arlington grassy dash was visually impressive, and he may not have enjoyed the drying out dirt track Remington had to offer for the Kip Deville Stakes. He’s trained well since, and could give the favorites a run for their money at a generous price (30-1 morning line).

My selections:

Pataky Kid

Overanalyze

Upcaptured

Agave Cat

$100,000 Iroquois Stakes (G3),

Sunday, Churchill Downs, Race 10, 5:02 p.m. EDT

2-year-olds, 1 Mile