Mr. Money ends skid, surges to Ack Ack triumph
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Bret Calhoun knew – just knew – that Mr. Money was much better than what the colt had been showing this year.
So when Mr. Money won for the first time in five 2020 starts by charging up the rail in the final stakes of the September meet at Churchill Downs, the Grade 3, $100,000 Ack Ack, Calhoun was truly vindicated in his faith in a colt who had earned more than $1.1 million last year at 3.
“Nothing had gone right for him all year,” Calhoun said after Mr. Money, ridden by Gabriel Saez, finished the one-mile Ack Ack in 1:34.85 over a fast track. “It was good to see him bounce back. Gabe did a great job on him.”
Saving ground the whole way when closely tracking the favored front-runner, Warrior’s Charge, Mr. Money secured command inside the eighth pole before proceeding to finish 1 1/4 lengths clear of a proverbial cavalry charge behind him. Bourbon Calling got second by a nose over Thirstforlife, with only 2 1/4 lengths separating the second-to-eighth finishers in the field of 12. Warrior’s Charge, always under pressure, faded to eighth at 13-10 odds.
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Owned by Allied Racing Stable and Spendthrift Farm, Mr. Money paid $14.80 as third choice. The 4-year-old son of Goldencents won four straight Grade 3 stakes last year, including the Pat Day Mile and Matt Winn at Churchill, prior to finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita. Calhoun said the Ack Ack triumph likely earned the colt a return shot at the 2020 BC Dirt Mile, to be run Nov. 7 at Keeneland.
Calhoun explained in great detail earlier in the week why Mr. Money’s form had gone awry at 4, citing bad trips, off tracks, the cancellation of targeted races, and ill-fitting race placements. “You hate to keep making excuses, but it really had been a train wreck,” he said.
“He showed us the real Mr. Money today,” Saez said in the race aftermath.
The $2 exacta (5-2) paid $189.20, the $1 trifecta (5-2-10) returned $1,615.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (5-2-10-11) was worth $3,178.55.
One race earlier, Estilo Femenino ($53.60) rallied down the center of the track to upset a solid field of fillies and mares in a $79,525, third-level allowance, finishing the one-mile distance in 1:35.63. Joe Talamo was aboard the winning 5-year-old mare for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Saturday was the penultimate day of the 14-day meet. Sunday is closing day, with pool disbursements mandatory for all wagers. The Kentucky circuit then goes dark for four days before Keeneland begins its 17-day fall meet Friday.