Churchill Downs: Lukas Classic, Ack Ack headline Saturday

Churchill Downs will showcase three stakes Saturday led by a competitive field for the 10th running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Lukas Classic. 

Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Lukas Classic will go as race 10 of 11 with a post time of 5:26 p.m. EDT. Saturday’s program also features the $400,000 Ack Ack (G3), a Breeders’ Cup win-and-you’re-in race for the Dirt Mile. The first post is at 12:45 p.m. EDT.

In the Lukas Classic, five-time graded-stakes winner Rattle N Roll, campaigned by Lucky Seven Stable, will attempt to rebound from his sixth-place finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) as the 8-5 favorite. Before that Rattle N Roll finished just a half-length behind West Will Power in the Stephen Foster (G1).

As a 3-year-old, Rattle N Roll tallied victories in the American Derby, St. Louis Derby and Oklahoma Derby (G3). Now 4, the Kenny McPeek-trained son of Connect sports victories in the Ben Ali, Pimlico Special, and Blame, all Grade 3s. Rattle N Roll will break from post 4 in the Lukas Classic under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr.

Stephen Foster third-place finisher Happy American, Grade 3 winner Clapton and Longacres Mile winner Five Star General are among Rattle N Roll’s competition in the Lukas Classic.

2023 Lukas Classic Stakes G2

Grade 2 winner Three Technique will attempt to get an automatic berth in Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile as the headliner of the 31st running of the Grade 3, $400,000 Ack Ack, race 9 at 4:55 p.m. EDT. 

Three Technique will try to win his seventh race when he breaks from post 3 under Rafael Bejarano. Trained by Jason Cook for owners David Miler, Eric Grindley and John Werner, Three Technique hasn’t competed since his 3 3/4-length score in the John A. Nerud (G2) on July 1 at Belmont Park, but he has remained in steady training at the Trackside Training Center in Louisville, Ky.

A son of Mr Speaker, Three Technique ran in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile but only managed a sixth-place finish.

Cowboy Jones winner Stage Raider, two-time stakes winner Zozos and four-time winner O Besos also are in the Ack Ack.

2023 Ack Ack G3