Three Technique ends skid with closing move in Ack Ack

Three Technique broke a seven-race losing streak by defeating just three rivals in the Grade 3, $400,000 Ack Ack Stakes on Saturday night at Churchill Downs.

Closing on the far outside from last under Rafael Bejarano, Three Technique ran down pacesetting Tumbarumba to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths in the Ack Ack, a one-turn mile that drew seven entrants but scratched down to a four-horse field.

Mufasa, entered in the Ack Ack, went to New York and won the Vosburgh Stakes on Saturday, while Big Blue Line was scratched to finish eighth in the John Henry Turf Championship at Del Mar. Saudi Crown loomed a formidable Ack Ack favorite but came up with a foot issue Saturday, trainer Brad Cox said, and also was scratched.

That left Cagliostro an odds-on favorite, but he failed to land a blow on a sloppy Saturday night at Churchill.

Tumbarumba broke from the rail and went to the lead on a moderate pace, going 23.02 and 46.24, with Stage Raider outside him, Cagliostro biding his time in third, and Stage Raider bringing up the rail. Cagliostro moved sharply into contention at the three-furlong marker but couldn’t sustain his bid, the two inside him fighting back as Bejarano bided his time on Three Technique. Bejarano followed Cagliostro past the quarter pole and into the homestretch before tipping widest and mowing down the trio of foes in front of him.

“I was just waiting for the right moment in the stretch. The horse, he did everything,” Bejarano said.

Three Technique’s last win had come some 15 months ago in New York, his recent form lacked spark, and connections wondered if the 7-year-old gelding could run to form on a wet track. He could and did and earned himself a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge program, though trainer Jason Cook’s post-race comments suggested connections were none too eager to ship to Del Mar for the Dirt Mile.

Tumbarumba finished two lengths ahead of Cagliostro for second, with Stage Raider finishing fourth. Three Technique paid $12.58 and completed the distance over a sloppy, sealed track in 1:36:77. Three Technique, by Mr Speaker out of Nite In Rome, by Harlan’s Holiday, races for Eric Grindley, David Miller, Howard Preuss, and John Werner.

On a wet night in Kentucky, he went last to first and on to Ack Ack glory.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.