Carve in peak form for Ack Ack
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Even lacking a horse named Lea, the Saturday renewal of the Ack Ack at Churchill Downs has Claiborne Farm written all over it.
Ack Ack was foaled at Claiborne in 1966 and eventually had a fine stud career there after being named Horse of the Year as a 5-year-old.
The current Claiborne standout, Lea, was supposed to be the big favorite for the one-mile Ack Ack, but he was declared from consideration earlier in the week by trainer Bill Mott after spiking a temperature.
And yet a horse with Claiborne ties could still emerge the Ack Ack winner: Carve, a Claiborne-bred gelding claimed from his first career start in January 2013, looks like the horse to beat among a field of five older horses when he seeks a fourth straight victory.
“He’s in peak form and doing really well,” said Churchill-based Brad Cox, who trains Carve for Mike Langford. “We thought about the Woodward for him last weekend at Saratoga, but he gets to run out of his own stall here. With Lea out, hopefully we’ll be right there.”
Given its short field, the 22nd Ack Ack was carded early on an 11-race Saturday program that includes three other stakes: the Locust Grove (race 8), Iroquois (race 9), and Pocahontas (race 10).
First post for the second of 12 programs at the one-year-old September meet is 12:45 p.m. Eastern. The Ack Ack goes at 2:19.
Joel Rosario, who would have ridden Lea, picked up the mount on late-running Politicallycorrect for Wesley Ward. Rosario, in from New York, rides all four stakes.
Ack Ack, Race 4
KEY CONTENDERS
Carve (Last 3 Beyers: 97-95-95)
◗ With Right to Vote and Flashback liable to contest the pace with Bradester poised outside of them, Carve and jockey Jesus Castanon could settle into a nice stalking trip. “He’s been putting himself right into his races,” Cox said.
◗ Cox, a Louisville native and trainer for nearly 10 years, is enjoying by far his best year yet, with stable earnings approaching $2 million. His Churchill spring meet was outstanding, with 15 wins from 46 starters.
Bradester (Last 3 Beyers: 108-100-85)
◗ That gigantic 108 Beyer comes from a runner-up finish behind Valid in the Monmouth Cup, which in turn followed a gritty runner-up try behind eventual Woodward winner Itsmyluckyday in the Salvator Mile.
◗ Jockey Corey Lanerie had a rough Saratoga meet (5 for 86), but nobody has ridden Churchill better in recent years, as he has been the leading jockey here at five of the last six meets.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Bradester. Trainer Eddie Kenneally is 7 for 64 with a $0.70 ROI over the past two years with horses making their third start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Flashback (Last 3 Beyers: 97-96-103)
◗ The long layoff and trainer switch are the obvious questions. He was an early candidate for the 2013 spring classics before tailing off somewhat. His speed is a major asset, but with Right to Vote lined up alongside, he might not ever catch a breather here.
◗ Work tab shows he was quite the summer traveler for new trainer Wayne Catalano, as he went from Saratoga to Monmouth to Arlington to Churchill.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Flashback. Trainer Wayne Catalano is 7 for 32 with a $2.62 ROI over the past two years with horses returning in routes following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan