Hit show runs down Cooke Creek in Lukas Classic

Click “Show”. was wholeheartedly concerned about the sloppy track Churchill Downs September 28th, a game is running down Cooke Creek to win the $500,000 Lukas Classic Stakes (G2).

“He was able to finish really strong,” coach Brad Cox said. “He had to fight hard against Cooke Creek to get there, but overall it was a great effort.”

Jockey Florent Geroux gave birth to the 4-year-old son of Candy ride in the perfect spot, fourth on the rail, just a few lengths from the top row. Cooke Creek set an honest pace of :23.62, :47.50 and 1:11.97 while being chased Stilleto boy And Warrior Johny both of which gave way at the other end.

Geroux called Hit Show at the 5/16 pole and began to recover midway through the track. Cooke Creek and Luis Saez pushed out to meet him in the middle and the pair battled for an eighth of a mile, with Hit Show emerging victorious by a margin.

Rattle N Roll who has returned after a year-long break, and favorite Disarm came from behind and took third and fourth place respectively.

Hit Show stopped the clock for 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.44 and paid $8.56 for the win.

The win was the third of four starts this year and the second straight graded win for the gray or roan colt bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West Stables. He is now 6-1-0 from 13 starts and has broken millionaire status with earnings of $1,079,515. His sire Candy Ride played the 2024 season at Lane’s End Farm for $75,000.

The Lukas Classic has produced a starter in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in each of the last three years, including the Cox’s Classic winner Curtsy go in 2021, but Cox said he is unsure where Hit Show will go next. The decision will come after a discussion with Wathnan Racing, which acquired Hit Show from Wests following his victory in the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes (G3) on August 4 Mountaineer Racetrack Casino & Resort. The man behind Wathnan is Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, a new player in the possession game.

“Brad did a great job on Hit Show and (Geroux) drove him great. It’s exciting for Wathnan Racing,” said Wathnan racing director Case Clay.

The victory capped Wathnan’s big day as four of his 13 horses reached the finish in rated company during training on Saturday. Three hours before Luke, Subsanador fought for victory in the California Crown (G1). Santa Anita Park. Two races earlier in Churchill, Tumbarumba And Cagliostro took second and third place in the Ack Ack (G3).

“It was a really fun day,” Clay said. “It’s nice to have a little bit of luck on your side.”

Video: Lukas Classic S. (G2)

At Three Technique, everything is going well in Ack Ack

For the first time in 2024, everything went right Three techniques and it led to a trip to the winner’s circle when he emerged victorious in the $365,000 Ack Ack Stakes (G3). Churchill Downs.

The 7 year old son of Mr. Speaker started the season 0-4 without hitting the board, a disappointing result after the best year of his career in which he won the 2023 John A. Nerud Stakes (G2).

“Everything that could go wrong went wrong this year,” said coach Jason Cook.

Among the dark bay horse’s misfortunes was that he suffered a small broken jaw after clinging to a crossbar a month and a half before his season debut in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on May 4.

Saturday under the lights at Churchill Downs was a different story as the first thing that went well was the scratch of the heavy favorite and expected pacesetter Saudi crown due to a foot injury.

At last year’s Ack Ack, Three Technique finished third behind a loose leader Zozos . This year, jockey Rafael Bejarano executed his plan perfectly. Three Technique sat last of four and gradually moved closer during the one-lap mile Tumbarumba, Stage Raider And Cagliostro fought throughout.

After fractions of :23.02, :46.24 and 1:11.26, Bejarano swung wide and raced through the middle of the track, catching Tumbarumba at the sixteenth pole and winning by 1 1/2 lengths . Cagliostro came third.

Three Technique stopped the clock in 1:36.77 and paid $12.58.

Three Technique, owned by Eric Grindley, David Miller, Howard Preuss and John Werner, became racing’s newest millionaire with earnings of $1,186,237 and a record of 7-6-8 in 39 starts. Bred in Kentucky by Omega Farm and Bally Breeders, Three Technique is the first graded winner this season for Mr. Speaker, who contested the 2024 season at Forks of the Paluxy in Bluff Dale, Texas, for a fee of $5,000. He comes from the victorious Harlan’s Holiday mare Nite in Rome.

By winning the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, Three Technique automatically secures a spot in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Del Mar November 2nd. However, Cook is unsure whether they will accept. The horse has competed in both the Dirt Mile and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) in the past, and neither seemed to suit his race.

“A sprint race is too short, he never ran well over two corners,” said Cook. “Of course he never ran well on the slopes tonight.”

For now, Cook is content to enjoy the win.

“I always wanted to win this race. It’s my hometown, it’s the type of racing I like,” Cook said. “My father won a Class 3 race here 58 years ago. It’s a bit of the same race.”

Video: Ack Ack S. (G3)