Willis Horton Racing and Whisper Hill Farm’s Hanshin Stakes (Listed) winner Will Take It has been on a brief layoff since his June 29 triumph at Churchill Downs, and trainer Dallas Stewart hopes the freshening sets him up for a strong fall campaign starting in Saturday’s $400,000 Ack Ack (G3).

“We aimed at the Ack Ack since winning the Hanshin in late June,” Stewart said. “He was able to get a nice training break for a few weeks over the summer, and we’ve geared him up for this spot and hopefully another big race the first weekend in November.”

The “big race” Stewart referred to is the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Before the Hanshin, Will Take It had been a model of consistency through the winter and spring with three allowance wins and two runner-up finishes. The Hanshin marked his first stakes try on dirt since finishing ninth in the 2024 Arkansas Derby (G1).

Stewart said Cristian Torres will ride in place of the injured Brian Hernandez Jr. in the Ack Ack. They drew post No. 2 and were listed as the 7-2 third choice on the morning line.

Also entered in the Ack Ack is Table 38 Racing and KatieRich Stables’ This Is Uscar, who was cross-entered in a Sunday allowance. The colt schooled in the paddock Thursday morning, and trainer Jordan Blair said he is still weighing his options in which race the colt will run.

The Ack Ack is part of a stakes doubleheader Saturday with the $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2). The Ack Ack goes as Race 8 at 4:26 p.m. (all times Eastern), followed two races later by the Lukas Classic at 5:29 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Advertisement

The field for the Ack Ack Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds):

Most Wanted (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox, 6-5)

Will Take It (Torres, Stewart, 7-2)

Surly Furious (Ben Curtis, Glenn Wismer, 30-1)

This Is Uscar (Edgar Morales, Blair, 15-1)

Tumbarumba (Tyler Gaffalione, Brian Lynch, 4-1)

Indispensable (Luis Saez, John Sadler, 3-1)

Three Technique (Florent Geroux, Jason Cook, 30-1)

Who Dey (Luan Machado, Tommy Drury Jr., 15-1)

This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Sep 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.