Bradester Hangs On to Win Ack Ack

Favored Bradester jumped to the lead at the start and stubbornly fought off a homestretch challenge from Carve before pulling away late under jockey Corey Lanerie for a 1 ¾-length victory in the $107,300 Grade III Ack Ack Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at a mile on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The Ack Ack victory was the second stakes win of the year for the 4-year-old son of Lion Heart, who covered the distance over a fast track in 1:34.54 and paid $4.40, $2.60 and $2.20 as the narrow betting choice in the field of five.  Carve, who saw a three-race win streak snapped under Jesus Castanon, returned $3 and $2.20. Flashback rallied for third under Shaun Bridgmohan in his first start since late December and paid $2.60 to show.

The Ack Ack victory by the Eddie Kenneally-trained Bradester snapped a four-race losing streak that dated to a Feb. 22 triumph in the Grade III Mineshaft Handicap at Fair Grounds.  Owned by Joseph Sutton, Bradester won for the third time in seven 2014 starts and improved his career record to 5-5-1 in 13 races.  The first-place prize of $66,526 boosted his career bankroll to $455,532.

“I had a perfect trip; just like we wanted him to,” said Lanerie, who collected his 19th career stakes victory at Churchill Downs.  “If somebody wanted the lead I was going to let them have it. But I kept him out of trouble and was just a good passenger.”

“He’s been really, really good,” Kenneally said.  “He’s matured and developed and I think he’s a better horse than he was and he’s still improving … He’s just better with age, perhaps.”

Bradester broke sharply and led through the backstretch of the one-turn mile distance before Right to Vote made a brief bid for the lead after a half-mile.  The winner shook clear of that challenge, but was immediately confronted by Carve, who had launched a four-wide bid and pulled within within a half-length of in the upper stretch, but could get no closer.  Flashback, last from the gate, moved up to third before losing ground on the turn.  He rallied mildly in the stretch to gain third, but never threatened the top pair.

Source: Churchill Downs