Harlan's Holiday Returns to Winner's Circle Following Iroquois

Starlight Stable's Ohio-bred Harlan's Holiday kept close to a brisk pace and drew away in the stretch to win Sunday's $113,200 Iroquois Stakes for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs.

Showmeitall set fractions of :21.96 and :44.03 while racing three lengths clear of second-place Harlan's Holiday. Under Anthony D'Amico, Harlan's Holiday moved up to within a head-length of the lead after six furlongs run in 1:09.55. From there it was all Harlan's Holiday, as the Ken McPeek trainee drew clear to win by 2 3/4 lengths after completing the mile in 1:35.01 on a fast track.

Request for Parole finished second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Gold Dollar. Godolphin's Janadel, the betting favorite, finished fourth, followed by Shining Career, Showmeitall, Yoga, Native Mark, Trail, and Pharaoh's Cat.

Harlan's Holiday (Harlan--Christmas in Aiken, by Affirmed) finished second to Siphonic in the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland after winning the Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes at River Downs in early September. The bay colt earned his first career victory in the restricted Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes in July and followed that up with a four-length win in the restricted Hoover Stakes prior to the Cradle. He earned $70,184 for Sunday's win, his fourth in six starts. He was bred by Double D Farm Corp.

The second choice in the wagering at just over 5-2, Harlan's Holiday returned $7.20, $4, and $3.60. Request for Parole paid $5.60 and $4 and completed the $24.60 exacta. Gold Dollar returned $5.80 to show. (Chart, Equibase)