The Street to the 2024 Breeders’ Cup makes one remaining cease underneath the Twin Spires Saturday night for the Ack Ack Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” Problem Collection qualifier for the Large Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Named after the Corridor of Famer who excelled throughout the late Nineteen Sixties and early Nineteen Seventies, the Grade 3 Ack Ack is held round a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs. This yr’s occasion may very effectively be run on a moist monitor, as heavy rain is predicted to deluge the commonwealth for many of the weekend attributable to remnants of Hurricane Helene making the way in which northward.
1. Tumbarumba (6-1 morning-line odds): Returns to the monitor after a three-month break, final seen ending a recreation second behind Cagliostro within the listed Hanshin Stakes June 30 at this monitor and distance. Has been working effectively at Churchill, a monitor on which he’s 2-for-4 lifetime with one second and one third. Anticipate an enormous effort at interesting odds.
JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Brian Lynch
2. Stage Raider (15-1): Emerged round this time final yr with a pair of sturdy races, a simple win within the listed R.A. Cowboy Jones Stakes at Ellis Park after which an excellent runner-up effort behind Zozos within the Ack Ack. Since then, although, he’s did not hit the board in 5 straight begins and completed final of eight, defeated by 21 ¾ lengths, in his most up-to-date race at Monmouth Park going a mile and an eighth. Can be an enormous shock.
JOCKEY: Brian Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Cherie DeVaux
3. Cagliostro (7-2): Rising star coach Cherie DeVaux has a a lot better probability with this contender than with Stage Raider, as he’s received two of 4 begins this yr, together with the one-turn-mile Hanshin Stakes right here in late June over Tumbarumba. He subsequently completed fourth within the Grade 1 Forego Stakes going seven furlongs at Saratoga. He stumbled at first of the Forego and was effectively out of it early earlier than making up some floor within the stretch. A win contender if he rebounds.
JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Cherie DeVaux
4. Mufasa (4-1): Chilean-bred dominated his opponents by 10 begins in his residence nation, successful eight of them, after which shook off a sixth-place debut at Churchill June 30 by posting a formidable 3 ¾-length victory in a seven-furlong allowance optional-claiming race on dust at Colonial Downs Aug. 12. Has returned to Kentucky to coach, however he’s cross-entered within the Vosburgh Stakes Saturday in New York (a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Dash) and may ship north. Determine he’s acquired a greater probability to remain residence and run right here, the place he’s a win risk if he can deal with the category hike.
JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Ignacio Correas IV
5. Three Method (15-1): Workmanlike runner hasn’t proven a lot in 4 begins this yr at age 7, though he was making up some late floor final out within the R.A. Cowboy Jones Stakes at Ellis to verify in fifth, 4 ¼ lengths behind Saudi Crown. A grinding sort who tries exhausting and completed third in final yr’s Ack Ack. That’s as soon as once more his ceiling in opposition to this group.
JOCKEY: Rafael Bejarano; TRAINER: Jason Cook dinner
6. Large Blue Line (20-1): Maryland-bred gelding was claimed by William Walden after a second-place end in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional-claiming race June 29 at Churchill. In his first begin in a brand new barn, he rallied late to defeat graded stakes winner Rocket Can by a neck going one mile at Saratoga on Aug. 23. He had assembled a good profession previous to the declare competing primarily in allowance races and posting a runner-up end to Stage Raider final yr within the R.A. Cowboy Jones Stakes. He’s in higher kind than that rival, however nonetheless an outsider. Large Blue Line is supplemented to this race and can be cross-entered in Saturday’s California Crown John Henry Turf Championship Stakes Introduced by 1/ST BET at Santa Anita Park, a 1 ¼-mile turf occasion.
JOCKEY: Luan Machado; TRAINER: William Walden
7. Saudi Crown (4-5): Heavy morning-line favourite primarily based on a front-running win final out within the one-mile Aug. 11 R.A. Cowboy Jones Stakes at Ellis Park. He additionally was an excellent third earlier this yr within the 1 1/8-mile, $20 million Saudi Cup half a world away, the place he practically held on earlier than yielding to Senor Buscador and Ushba Tesoro. He’s acquired an enormous class edge in opposition to this group however is way from invincible. Would profit if pace-pressing Mufasa is withdrawn, and likewise has the very best wet-track kind on this discipline, having received the Pennsylvania Derby and completed second by a nostril within the Jim Dandy Stakes Introduced by DK Horse final yr on sloppy tracks.
JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Brad Cox
THE PICK: Cagliostro
LIVE LONGSHOT: Tumbarumba
SUPERFECTA: 3-7-1-5
