Bradester beats short field in Ack Ack

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bradester put in another powerful effort and raised his Breeders’ Cup stock with a 1 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $107,300 Ack Ack, the first of four Saturday stakes at Churchill Downs.

Always prominent after breaking sharply from his outside post in a field of five, Bradester put away Right to Vote before turning back the stretch bid of Carve. He paid $4.40 to win as the favorite after finishing the one-turn mile in a swift 1:34.54 over a fast track.

“He was running the whole way,” said winning jockey Corey Lanerie.

Bradester, owned by Joseph Sutton, will run next in the Grade 2, $400,000 Kelso at Belmont Park as a likely prep for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Lion Heart, the bay colt was coming off sharp back-to-back runner-up finishes in graded stakes at Monmouth Park, the latest resulting in a 108 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He’s finally putting it all together,” said trainer Eddie Kenneally. “He’s matured, developed, and he’s still improving. It’s exciting.”

Bradester earned $66,526 with his second graded win; the first came in the Grade 3 Mineshaft at Fair Grounds in February. He has five wins and five seconds from 14 overall starts.

Trainer Brad Cox also said he was pleased with the solid effort by Carve, who was coming off three straight victories. Cox said he also would take a long look at the BC Dirt Mile on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

“We might have a prep, and we might not,” said Cox.

After Carve came Flashback, who was another 5 1/2 lengths back when making his first start in more than eight months. Right to Vote and Politicallycorrect completed the order of finish.

The $2 exacta (5-4) paid $9.40, the $1 trifecta (5-4-1) returned $12.20, and the 10-cent superfecta (5-4-1-2) was worth a mere $2.32.