With odds-on favorite Saudi Crown scratched with a foot issue, along with two other contenders, it was Three Technique who came through with a winning effort in the $400,000 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs late Saturday night.
Three Technique. Coady Photo.
Next stop for Three Technique is the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile after Ack Ack win
The 7-year-old son of Mr. Speaker was last of four into the stretch of the one-turn mile before jockey Rafael Bejarano guided him to the lead in the final sixteenth-of-a-mile to beat Tumbarumba by 1 ½ lengths.
Three Technique earned an all-fees paid automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Nov. 2 at Del Mar with the Ack Ack oart if the BC Challenge Series. Trainer Jason Cook said he was delighted with the win over a sloppy track and might consider the Dirt Mile around two turns.
“This is unbelievable, and I wanted to win this race for a very long time,” Cook said. “We’ll sit down and talk about the plan … We are just enjoying every bit of this and honored to win this race. Two turns is never really in his ball game, but neither was the mud until tonight.”
Three Technique (5-1) returned $12.58 for a $2 win bet. He covered the mile in 1:36.77. Cagliostro was third as the 4-5 favorite with Stage Raider fourth.
Three Technique ended a seven-race losing streak with his seventh r win in 39 career starts (and he topped $1 million in earnings). He finished third in the Ack Ack in 2022 and 2023.
In addition to Saudi Crown, the other scratches were Mufasa, who won the Vosburgh Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, and Big Blue Line, who ran eighth of 11 in the John Henry Turf Championship (G2) at Santa Anita.
Lukas Classic: Hit Shot hits the winner’s circle
The $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2) went off at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, and 1:50.44 later, Hit Show ($8.56) outdueled Cooke Creek by a neck for his sixth victory in 13 career starts.
Last out, the 4-year-old gray son of Candy Ride won the West Virginia Governor’s Cup (G3).
Hit Show. Coady Photo.
Cooke Creek, came into the race with three wins in a row.
Rattle N Roll was third in the field of eight, followed by 9-5 favorite Disarm, Warrior Jonny, Bolzy, Stilleto Boy, and Happy American.
“That was a huge effort,” winning jockey Florent Geroux said. “He had to battle late and really dug in to get his head in front. We were in a great spot early and I got save a lot of ground. He has a lot of class. I think he’s improving a lot this year.”
Added trainer Brad Cox: “We’ll talk about next steps with the owners and make a plan. Whether it be the Breeders’ Cup or races here locally is still up in the air.”
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