Month: September 2023

Three Technique To Bid For Breeders’ Cup Berth In ‘Win & You’re In’ Ack Ack

Grade 2 winner Three Technique will attempt to garner an all-entry-fees-paid berth into the $1-million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) as the headliner of Saturday's 31st running of the $400,000 Ack Ack (G3) at Churchill Downs.

The one-mile Ack Ack Stakes is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” contest for the  Dirt Mile Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. The Ack Ack will go as Race 9 of 11 Saturday with a post time of 4:55 p.m. (ET). First post is 12:45 p.m. The stellar program also features the 10th running of the $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2) and 43rd running of the $200,000 Jefferson Cup.

In the Ack Ack, David Miler, Eric Grindley and John Werner's  Three Technique will attempt to win his seventh overall race when he breaks from post No. 3 under Rafael Bejarano.

Trained by Jason Cook, Three Technique hasn't competed since his 3 ¾-length score in the July 1 John A. Nerud (G2) July 1 at Belmont but has remained in steady training at Trackside Louisville, located about five miles from Churchill Downs. A 6-year-old son of Mr Speaker, Three Technique ran in last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile but only managed a sixth-place finish.

There are several other accomplished horses entered in the Ack Ack, including John Gunther's R. A. Cowboy Jones winner Stage Raider; Barry and Joni Butzow's two-time stakes winner Zozos; and Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Terry Stephens' four-time winner O Besos.

Here is the complete Ack Ack field (with jockey and trainer): Seize the Night (Jon Court, Jade Cunningham); O Besos (Tyler Gaffalione, Greg Foley); Three Technique (Rafael Bejarano, Jason Cook); Stage Raider (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cherie DeVaux); Zozos (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Skyro (James Graham, Brian Lynch); and Caddo River (Declan Cannon, Wayne Lukas).

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Rattle N Roll Looks To Get Back On Track In Lukas Classic

Lucky Seven Stable's five-time graded stakes winner Rattle N Roll leads a competitive field of nine older horses that were entered for Saturday's 10th running of the $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Lukas Classic will go as Race 10 of 11 with a post time of 5:26 p.m. (ET). Saturday's stellar program from Churchill Downs also will feature the $400,000 Ack Ack (G3) – a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event for the Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita, and the $200,000 Jefferson Cup. First post is 12:45 p.m.

In the Lukas Classic, Rattle N Roll will attempt to rebound from his sixth-place finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) as the 8-5 favorite. Prior to that race, Rattle N Roll finished just a half-length second behind West Will Power in the Stephen Foster (G1). The Kenny McPeek-trained 4-year-old Connect colt sports victories earlier this year in the Ben Ali (G3) in April at Keeneland, Pimlico Special (G3) in May, and Blame (G3) June 3 at Churchill.

As a 3-year-old, Rattle N Roll tallied victories in the American Derby, St. Louis Derby, and Oklahoma Derby (G3) and at age 2 won at the highest level in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.

Rattle N Roll will break from post No. 4 in the Lukas Classic under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr.

Rattle N Roll's competition in the Lukas Classic includes Lothenbach Stables' Stephen Foster third-place finisher Happy American, RRR Racing's Grade 3 winner Clapton, and Elttaes Stable's Longacres Mile winner Five Star General.

Here is the complete field for the Lukas Classic from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Happy American (James Graham, Neil Pessin); Clapton (Cristian Torres, Chad Summers); Warrant (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Rattle N Roll (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Trademark (Martin Garcia, Vicki Oliver); Blue Devil (Ricardo Santana Jr., Jeff Hiles); Whelen Springs (Jose Ferrer, Lindsay Schultz); Five Star General (Corey Lanerie, Grant Forster); and Americanrevolution (Tyler Gaffalione, Todd Pletcher).

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Apprentice Torres, Protege Of Hall Of Famers, Makes New Home On Kentucky Circuit

Apprentice jockey Jaime Torres has found a new home on the Kentucky circuit with the help of his agent, Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, and the backing of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

“It's been a dream to come ride in Kentucky,” Torres said. “I'm pretty new to the sport. One day I was sitting at home Puerto Rico and saw racing on from Camarero and I fell in love. From that point on, I wanted to become a jockey.”

Torres won his first race nearly one year ago at Gulfstream Park. The 24-year-old rider started galloping horses in Puerto Rico before moving to the U.S. and working for Saffie Joseph Jr.

Torres, a five-pound apprentice rider, won his first race at Churchill Downs on Sept. 16 aboard Our Keepsake, a 2-year-old Cinco Charlie filly trained by Lukas who scored by 4 1/4 lengths going gate to wire.

“Riding for Mr. Lukas is a blessing,” Torres said. “I've been very lucky to learn from so many talented people like Gary Stevens and Angel Cordero (Jr.), who was my agent in New York. They've all taught me so much about riding and life.”

Even with Lukas being a main supporter of Torres, he is slated to ride for many top outfits over the next week including Mike Maker, Chris Hartman, Joe Sharp, and Michael McCarthy.

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