Welcome to the points chase for the 2027 Kentucky Derby. It may still be summer but spring will be in the air Saturday when the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs kicks off the slate of  points races to earn a spot in the starting gate for the opening leg of next year’s Triple Crown. While the winner will only receive 10 points, the one-turn mile could showcase a horse to watch in the upcoming months.

1. Caribbean Life: Drew away in the stretch to win easily in his seven-furlong debut at Ellis Park. Has the pedigree to handle the added furlong, though breaking from the rail at this distance could be tricky. Deserves a look in this field.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Will Walden

2. Blessed Flyer: Rallied from fifth to win the Bashford Manor Stakes here in an excellent final time. The rival he beat by a neck flopped in his next try, but a bullet workout Sept. 5 indicates this Dialed In colt could be primed for another win.

JOCKEY: Brian Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Michael Tomlinson

3. Bearamour: Set the pace when well-beaten by fellow Iroquois starter Salahudin in the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes Presented by Claiborne Farm. He may not want this distance, but he has enough speed to possibly land in the exotics.

JOCKEY: James Graham; TRAINER: Keith Desormeaux

4. Admiral’s Order: He’s slated to make his dirt debut here, though he’s also entered in a turf race Sept. 9 at Kentucky Downs. His dirt workouts fail to ignite enthusiasm for his chances here.

JOCKEY: Luan Machado; TRAINER: Ben Colebrook

5. Real Goodbar: He won his lone race on turf, but has a pedigree that indicates he could have a bright future in dirt races at a mile or more. Deserves some consideration.

JOCKEY: Emmanuel Esquivel; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

6. Antivenom: Was an odds-on choice when he won at first asking in a 5 ½-furlong maiden race at Ellis Park. Has worked out impressively for this and should be fine with the added distance.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Mark Casse

Salahudin wins Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes (Coady Media)

7. Salahudin: Won the Ellis Park Juvenile by 4 ½ lengths and is 2-for-2 for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Earned a solid figure for that stakes win, making him the one to beat here.

JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

8. He Is No Lie: Was a close second in the Bashford Manor, then flew out West and lost by 13 ½ lengths in the Best Pal Stakes to the West’s top 2-year-old at the moment, Hughes. He started his career in California, shipped to Kentucky, returned to California and now is back in Kentucky. That seems like a lot of mileage for a young colt.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

9. Real Gone: Was very impressive in his dirt debut, winning by 8 ½ lengths at Gulfstream Park. Earned a good speed figure. He’s also part of a family affair as trainer Patrick Biancone will give a leg up to his son-in-law, jockey Keith Asmussen.

JOCKEY: Keith Asmussen; TRAINER: Patrick Biancone

THE PICK: Salahudin

LIVE LONGSHOT: Real Gone

SUPERFECTA: 7-6-9-2