Knicks Go headlines a 6-pack set for Lukas Classic

Knicks Go, the top-rated horse for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, headlines a compact field of six accomplished older horses that entered Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs – the marquee race on closing weekend of the September Meet.

The Lukas Classic, which could serve as a final prep prior to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, was carded as the eighth race on Saturday’s 11-race program. First post is 12:45 p.m. EDT, and the Lukas Classic will go at 4:22 p.m. Named after Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, the 1 1/8-mile race shares the Saturday spotlight with the $300,000 Ack Ack (G3), which goes as Race 10 at 5:26 p.m.

Trained by Brad Cox and owned by Korean Racing Authority, Knicks Go won last year’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile to close his 4-year-old campaign. The now 5-year-old son of Paynter started the year with a 2 3/4-length victory in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park and will enter the Lukas Classic after his dominating 4 1/2-length score in the $1 million Whitney (G1) at Saratoga.

Knicks Go has competed four times at Churchill Downs but has yet to record a win beneath the historic Twin Spires. The speedy Maryland-bred’s career record is 22: 8-3-1 with purse earnings of $5,368,995. Jockey Joel Rosario, who has ridden Knicks Go in his last eight starts, will have the call Saturday from post No. 2.

Chief among Knicks Go’s competition in the Lukas Classic is multiple Grade 2 winner Tacitus. The Juddmonte homebred is scheduled to make his first start since his seventh-place effort in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) on Feb. 20. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 5-year-old son of Tapit has recorded graded-stakes triumphs in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), Wood Memorial (G2) and Suburban (G2). New York-based jockey Jose Lezcano will travel to Churchill Downs Saturday for the mount from post 3.

Also entered is Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider’s $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Cup (G3) winner Sprawl. Trained by Tommy Drury Jr., Sprawl gamely prevailed by 1 3/4 lengths in the Aug. 7 West Virginia Governor’s Cup under jockey Joe Talamo. The chestnut colt by City Zip will have Talamo in the irons for Saturday’s affair from post 6.

Undefeated Beau Liam takes on 10 in Ack Ack

Stonestreet Stables’ undefeated homebred colt Beau Liam will attempt to notch his fourth-consecutive win against 10 rivals that entered Saturday’s 29th running of the $300,000 Ack Ack (G3) at Churchill Downs.

The one-mile Ack Ack, which serves as a prep for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 6, was carded as Race 10 with a post time of 5:26 p.m.

Beau Liam began his career May 29 at Churchill Downs, where he cruised to a maiden-breaking win by 7 1/2 lengths in a six-furlong dash. The son of Liam’s Map shipped north to Saratoga, where he narrowly defeated first-level allowance company by a scant nose in a swift seven furlongs on July 17. Most recently, the bay colt easily defeated second-level allowance foes by six lengths at Saratoga.