Churchill: Saudi Crown goes for Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile bid

Talented colt Saudi Crown leads a field of seven older horses entered in Saturday’s 32nd running of the Grade 3, $400,000 Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile division.

Run at a one-turn mile, the Ack Ack Stakes is part of the Downs After Dark program, alongside the $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2). The Ack Ack will be run under the lights as Race 8 at 9:39 p.m. EDT. First post is 6 p.m. EDT.

Trained by Brad Cox for FMQ Stables, Saudi Crown had a strong 3-year-old season, winning the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) and finishing a close second in both the Jim Dandy (G2) and Dwyer Stakes. After a 10th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, he returned victorious as a 4-year-old in the Louisiana Stakes (G3), followed by a third in the Saudi Cup (G1) and a disappointing 12th in the Godolphin Mile (G2). Saudi Crown returned to North America in mid-August, leading the field gate-to-wire in the R.A. Cowboy Jones Stakes as the 3-5 favorite. Florent Geroux will ride Saudi Crown in the Ack Ack from post No. 7.

Among Saudi Crown’s challengers are the Hanshin Stakes top two finishers Cagliostro and Tumbarumba, both owned by Wathnan Racing.

Cagliostro, trained by Cherie DeVaux, held off Tumbarumba by a length in the June 30 Hanshin Stakes at Churchill Downs. He enters the Ack Ack following a troubled fourth-place finish in the Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Jose Ortiz will ride Cagliostro from post 3.

The speedy Tumbarumba, trained by Brian Lynch, has been consistent throughout his career, with a 15: 5-5-2 record. A Louisiana-bred son of Oscar Performance, Tumbarumba finished just one length behind Cagliostro in the Hanshin Stakes. Prior to that he finished a scant nose behind Steal Sunshine in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) and was beaten a long neck by Il Miracolo in the Ghostzapper Stakes (G3). Luis Saez has the call on Tumbarumba from the rail.