Allied Racing Stable and Spendthrift Farm's 4-year-old Goldencents colt, Mr. Money, saved ground throughout under Gabriel Saez, coming from off the pace to win Saturday's Grade 3 Ack Ack Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
Bourbon Calling finished second, with Thirstforlife third and Dinar fourth in the field of 13 older runners going a one-turn mile on a fast dirt tracksa. Mr. Money covered the distance in 1:34.85, a stakes record, and paid $14.80.
Mr. Money is trained by Bret Calhoun.
Warrior's Charge, the 6-5 favorite, broke from the rail and set a quick pace, going the opening quarter in :22.61 and half mile in :44.48. American Anthem and Pioneer Spirit applied pressure on the frontrunner as the field turned into the stretch after six furlongs in 1:09.11, with 65-1 shot Pioneer Spirit poking his nose in front briefly at the top of the stretch.
Mr. Money, never far back, found a perfect spot on the rail in the long run down the backstretch and never left the wood, going through an opening in the stretch when Warrior's Charge drifted out and hitting the front inside the furlong pole.
“We sat a perfect trip,” said Saez. “This horse hasn't had things go his way this year and showed us the real Mr. Money today.”
The victory was the first for Mr. Money in five starts this year. He put together a four-race win streak of Grade 3 stakes in 2019 – the Pat Day Mile, Matt Winn Stakes, Indiana Derby and West Virginia Derby – then was beaten a neck in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby before finishing seventh in the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
Bred in Kentucky by Spruce Lane Farm, Mr. Money has now won six of 17 career starts.
“Gabe worked out a perfect trip on him,” said Calhoun. “I thought his last few tries weren't a fair assessment of who this horse is. He showed us who he was today. He loves this track and got to run out of his own stall.”
Calhoun said Mr. Money may make a second run in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, to be run at Keeneland on Nov. 7.
“Fingers crossed that will take us to the Breeders' Cup,” Allied Racing's Chester Thomas said. “We are so thrilled for this horse, Bret, his entire team and Gabe.”
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