Tumbarumba outduels Most Wanted to win Ack Ack at Churchill
Louisiana-bred Tumbarumba pressured odds-on favorite Most Wanted throughout the race before drawing away inside the final furlong to spring the upset by three-quarters of a length Saturday in the 33rd running of the Grade 3, $335,000 Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Tumbarumba, a 5-year-old Oscar Performance gelding, ran the one-turn mile on a fast main track in 1:35.44. Tyler Gaffalione rode the winner for trainer Brian Lynch and Qatar-based owner Wathnan Racing.
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A start in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar is next.
The runner-up in last year’s Ack Ack, Tumbarumba broke from post 4 and did not 1-4 favorite Most Wanted get away with an unpressured early lead. Last year’s Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner for trainer Brad Cox, Most Wanted broke from the rail Saturday and set quick early splits of 22.68, 45.26 and 1:09.32 as Tumbarumba sat just off his right hip. The two matched strides through upper stretch before Tumbarumba poked his nose in front from the outside and inched clear late.
“All the credit goes to this horse and Brian and his team,” Gaffalione said. “He’s such a fun horse to ride who tries so hard every time. He deserved to win this race.”
The $182,280 first prize hiked Tumbarumba’s bankroll to $960,020 with a record of 24: 7-7-4. It was his fourth career stakes win and second in a row. He had won the Cowboy Jones over a mile at Ellis Park on Aug. 10. At age 3, Tumbarumba prevailed in the Ellis Park Derby. At 4 he won the Fred Hooper (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Tumbarumba paid $16.78, $3.98 and $2.60 as the 7-1 third betting choice. Most Wanted, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., paid $2.32 and $2.10. Indispensable, under Luis Saez, was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third at 8-1 and returned $3.04 to show.
Who Dey was fourth and was followed by last year’s Ack Ack winner Three Technique, 7-1 second choice Will Take It and Surly Furious. This Is Uscar was scratched.
Tumbarumba, out of Street Sense mare Naïve Enough, was bred by Coteau Grove Farms.
“Tyler and this horse get along so well,” Lynch said. “He rode a great race today, and it’s back to the Breeders’ Cup again this year. He ran well there last year (finishing fourth), but I think this year he’s a more mature horse and can show different dynamics within the race.”
Nine of the last 12 Ack Ack used the race as a springboard to enter the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.