{"id":157442,"date":"2025-09-24T11:59:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T11:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/157442\/"},"modified":"2025-09-24T11:59:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T11:59:06","slug":"2025-ack-ack-stakes-at-a-glance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/157442\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Ack Ack Stakes at a Glance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently, the Ack Ack Stakes<\/a> has become a highlight event of Churchill Downs<\/a>\u2019 short September meet along with the Lukas Classic Stakes<\/a> and the track\u2019s first two qualifying races for the following year\u2019s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and Longines Kentucky Oaks.<\/p>\n

This year, the Ack Ack has been removed from the Breeders\u2019 Cup Challenge Series schedule, where it was formerly a \u201cWin and You\u2019re In\u201d prep for the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile. The one-turn mile race should still be of significance as a possible prep for this year\u2019s Dirt Mile<\/a> or even the Cygames Breeders\u2019 Cup Sprint<\/a>, both held Nov. 1 at Del Mar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. Most Wanted<\/a>: Held a contested early lead in the Forego Stakes<\/a> last time out at Saratoga<\/a> but tired in the stretch to check in fifth against a tough field. Prior to that, was in fine form this year with an allowance win and two runner-up finishes in graded stakes. He\u2019s 2-for-4 on this track and 3-for-3 at this distance. Notably, Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the reins after Florent Geroux rode him for all nine of his previous starts. Could lead this race from start to finish.<\/p>\n

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.<\/a>; TRAINER: Brad Cox<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Will Take It<\/a>: Enters off of a rallying upset win in the Hanshin Stakes held at the same one-turn mile distance at Churchill Downs. Won three of his prior five starts this year and was second in the other two, all of these coming since Dallas Stewart took over training. Will have a replacement jockey due to Brian Hernandez Jr.<\/a> being injured and hospitalized last Sunday.<\/p>\n

JOCKEY: TBA; TRAINER: Dallas Stewart<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Surly Furious<\/a>: Longshot has two stakes wins to his credit, both coming in 2024 on the all-weather track at Turfway Park<\/a>. In his two prior graded stakes starts on dirt, he hasn\u2019t threatened and it would be a surprise to see him do so here.<\/p>\n

JOCKEY: Ben Curtis<\/a>; TRAINER: Glenn Wismer<\/a><\/p>\n

4. This Is Uscar<\/a>: Was elevated to test stakes company after a solid start to 2025 and has made four starts in a row at that level, finishing second three times including behind Tumbarumba most recently in Ellis Park<\/a>\u2019s R.A. \u201cCowboy\u201d Jones Stakes held at a mile. Projects to duel with Most Wanted for the lead and could hang around for a minor share.<\/p>\n

JOCKEY: Edgar Morales<\/a>; TRAINER: Jordan Blair<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Tumbarumba<\/a>: Veteran broke a 10-race losing streak last time out by rallying to win the one-turn mile R.A. \u201cCowboy\u201d Jones Stakes at Ellis. He did finish second or third seven times in his 10 winless starts and can be counted on to give a good effort.<\/p>\n

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione<\/a>; TRAINER: Brian Lynch<\/a><\/p>\n

6. Indispensable<\/a>: Intriguing California shipper comes in off of a no-threat fourth in the Pacific Classic Stakes<\/a> going a mile and a quarter and facing stars Fierceness<\/a> and Journalism<\/a>. He\u2019s getting significant class relief and, if he can avoid the traffic trouble he\u2019s experienced in his last three starts, a mild upset is not out of the question.<\/p>\n

JOCKEY: Luis Saez<\/a>; TRAINER: John Sadler<\/a><\/p>\n

7. Three Technique<\/a>: Old-timer (he\u2019s 8) has plenty of experience at this level, going this distance, and on this track. He won last year\u2019s Ack Ack on a sloppy track but is winless in five starts since and hasn\u2019t finished better than fourth, which came last time out in a Churchill allowance. Will need his best effort, and it might not be good enough.<\/p>\n

JOCKEY: Florent Geroux<\/a>; TRAINER: Jason Cook<\/a><\/p>\n

8. Who Dey<\/a>: Has been ultra-consistent through 11 career starts, winning seven of them and finishing off the board only once. He came back from a 6 \u00bd-month layoff to dominate a one-mile allowance race in May at Belterra Park<\/a> and now will see if he can fire fresh after another four-month break. Cincinnati Bengals fans will hope for an upset to take the sting away from another Joe Burrow injury.<\/p>\n

JOCKEY: Luan Machado<\/a>; TRAINER: Tom Drury Jr.<\/a><\/p>\n

THE PICK: Most Wanted<\/a><\/p>\n

LIVE LONGSHOT: Will Take It<\/a><\/p>\n

SUPERFECTA: 1-6-2-5<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Recently, the Ack Ack Stakes has become a highlight event of Churchill Downs\u2019 short September meet along with…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":157443,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[3004,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-157442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-racing","tag-racing","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=157442"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157442\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/157443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=157442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=157442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=157442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}