Solid field likely for Ack Ack, key Breeders' Cup prep

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The final Saturday of the Churchill Downs meet, Sept. 30, is one to look forward to, especially with the Grade 3 Ack Ack shaping up with such a good matchup.

Tom’s Ready, Warrior’s Club, and The Player are the known prospects for the Ack Ack, a one-turn mile that serves as a lead-in to the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar.

Trained by Dallas Stewart, Tom’s Ready won the Ack Ack last year, defeating the heavily favored Runhappy, prior to finishing fifth in the Dirt Mile. Both The Player, trained by Buff Bradley, and Warrior’s Club, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, are coming off a sharp allowance victory.

The Ack Ack and Jefferson Cup are part of a Sept. 30 card headed by the $200,000 Lukas Classic, which has been upgraded to a Grade 3 since last year.