Saturday's $500,000 Lukas Classic (Grade 2), featuring Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Rich Strike, and the $300,000 Ack Ack (G3) at Churchill Downs have been added to the list of races to be televised live on NBC's “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In” telecast, which airs Saturday from 4-6 p.m. (ET).
The Ack Ack for 3-year-olds and up, which goes as Race 9 at with an updated off-time of 4:56 p.m., is a one-turn, one-mile “Win and You're In” event for this year's $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (GI) to be held Nov. 5 at Keeneland. Carter Handicap (GI) winner Speaker's Corner is the even-money morning line favorite in the field of 10.
The 1 1/8-mile Lukas Classic for 3-year-olds and up, which goes as Race 10 at 5:26 p.m., is a springboard to the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic. Rich Strike, who scored an 80-1 shocking upset in the $3 million Kentucky Derby in May, will attempt to become the first Derby winner to return to Churchill Downs and win since Silver Charm. The 1997 Derby winner took the 1998 Clark Handicap (G2) beneath the Twin Spires after runner-up finishes to Awesome Again in that year's renewals of both the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
In addition to Rich Strike, the Lukas Classic features last year's Kentucky Derby runner-up and 8-5 morning line favorite Hot Rod Charlie; Charles Town Classic (G2) winner Art Collector; and Grade 1 winner Happy Saver, who came within six lengths of America's top-rated horse Flightline in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1).
All other races from Churchill Downs on Saturday will air on FS2's “America's Day at the Races” from 12:30-4:30 p.m. and 6-6:30 p.m.
The post Lukas Classic, Ack Ack Added To Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Preview On NBC appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
