Photo:

Casey Laughter / Eclipse Sportswire

Rigney Racing and trainer Phil Bauer celebrated a
significant victory Saturday as Jonathan’s Way took the field gate to wire in
the 43rd running of the Grade 3, $254,745 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs,
earning the colt 10 qualifying points toward Kentucky Derby 2025.

“It was an unbelievable day for our barn,” Bauer said Sunday
morning. “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. … 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 this morning.”

Jonathan’s Way gets leg up on road to Kentucky Derby.

Jonathan’s Way is only the second horse that Bauer and
Rigney Racing have had earn qualifying points for a Kentucky Derby. The duo
previously campaigned Another Lemon Drop, who finished fourth in the 2015
Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds. This latest victory, however, feels different for
the owner Richard Rigney.

“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. … Seeing him already reward us is surreal. Being one
of the top favorites for both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby is
a dream come true. This is the greatest sport in the world.”

Jonathan’s Way’s success also creates a unique connection to
one of Ohio’s best-bred champions Harlan’s Holiday. That legendary horse was
broken by Barry Berkelhammer, who also handled Jonathan’s Way’s early
development.

Bauer said the colt’s next target is the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

The next stop on the Kentucky Derby points calendar is Oct.
5 with the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, the Champagne Stakes (G1) at
Belmont at the Big A and the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita, each
offering 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers.