Hit Show heads $500K Lukas Classic field

Churchill Downs stakes advances by Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media photo of Hit Show winning Mountaineer’s West Virginia Governor’s Cup)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024) – Gary and Mary West’s homebred Hit Show headlines a field of eight older horses entered in next Saturday’s 11th running of the $500,000 Lukas Classic (Grade II), part of a stakes doubleheader on the Downs After Dark program at Churchill Downs.

The Lukas Classic, named for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, will be run at 1 1/8 miles as Race 10 at 10:40 p.m. (all times Eastern). The 11-race program begins at 6 p.m. and also features the $400,000 Ack Ack (GIII) in Race 8.

Hit Show, trained by Brad Cox, finished fifth in Kentucky Derby 149, beaten 6 ¼ lengths to Mage. Earlier in the season, Hit Show posted a commanding 5 ½-length victory in the Withers Stakes (GIII) to begin his Road to the Kentucky Derby. Following the Triple Crown season, Hit Show finished fifth in the Jim Dandy (GII) and sixth in the Oklahoma Derby (GIII). After those two disappointing finishes, Hit Show went to the sidelines for the remainder of the year but returned as a 4-year-old in early May when he scored a 2 ¼-length victory in an allowance race at Churchill Downs. He enters the Lukas Classic following a determined half-length win in the West Virginia Governor’s Cup (GIII) at Mountaineer. Florent Geroux will ride Hit Show from post No. 6.

Among Hit Show’s main rivals in the Lukas Classic are Grade III winner and 2023 Travers (GI) runner-up Disarm, as well as eight-time winner and 2023 Stephen Foster (GI) runner-up Rattle N Roll.

Here’s the field for the Lukas Classic in post-position order (with jockey and trainer):

• Stilleto Boy (Evin Roman, Ed Moger Jr.)
• Rattle N Roll (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek)
• Happy American (Corey Lanerie, Neil Pessin)
• Cooke Creek (Luis Saez, Mike Maker)
• Disarm (Tyler Gaffalione, Steve Asmussen)
• Hit Show (Geroux, Cox)
• Bolzy (Francisco Arrieta, Donnie K. Von Hemel)
• Warrior Johny (Jose Ortiz, Phil Bauer)

The final Downs After Dark of the year will take place Saturday as Churchill Downs presents “Oktoberfest” where the spirit of Munich will come to the Twin Spires with an array of local brews from West Sixth Brewing and Gravely Brewing Co in a beer garden;sizzling bratwurst and savory pretzels; lively polka dancing; yodeling contest; live music and world-class horse racing.

Admission gates will open at 5 p.m. and the 11-race program will be conducted between 6-11:10 p.m. General admission to Downs After Dark is $20 and includes an official program. Guests under the age of 18 will only be admitted to the track if accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Outdoor box seats range from $28 to $38 per person. Limited premium dining packages are available starting at $91 per person including our new and exclusive Oktoberfest VIP Package. 

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com. 

GRADE I WINNER SAUDI CROWN HEADLINES $400,000 ACK ACK – FMQ Stables’ talented colt Saudi Crown leads a field of seven older horses entered in next Saturday’s 32nd running of the $400,000 Ack Ack Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile division.

Run at a one-turn mile, the Ack Ack Stakes is part of the Downs After Dark program, alongside the $500,000 Lukas Classic (GII). The Ack Ack will be run under the lights as Race 8 at 9:39 p.m. First post is 6 p.m.

Trained by Brad Cox, Saudi Crown had a strong 3-year-old season, winning the Pennsylvania Derby (GI) and finishing a close second in both the Jim Dandy (GII) and Dwyer Stakes. After a 10th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, he returned victorious as a 4-year-old in the Louisiana Stakes (GIII), followed by a third in the Saudi Cup (GI) and a disappointing 12th in the Godolphin Mile (GII). Saudi Crown returned to North America in mid-August, leading the field gate-to-wire in the R.A. Cowboy Jones Stakes as the 3-5 favorite. Florent Geroux will ride Saudi Crown in the Ack Ack from post No. 7.

Among Saudi Crown’s challengers are the Hanshin Stakes top two finishersCagliostro and Tumbarumba, both owned by Wathnan Racing.

Cagliostro, trained by Cherie DeVaux, held off Tumbarumba by a length in the June 30 Hanshin Stakes at Churchill Downs. He enters the Ack Ack following a troubled fourth-place finish in the Forego Stakes (GI) at Saratoga. Jose Ortiz will ride Cagliostro from post 3.

The speedy Tumbarumba, trained by Brian Lynch, has been consistent throughout his 15-race career, with five wins, five seconds, and two thirds. A Louisiana-bred son of Oscar Performance, Tumbarumba finished just one length behind Cagliostro in the Hanshin Stakes. Prior to that he finished a scant nose behind Steal Sunshine in the Gulfstream Park Mile (GII) and was beaten a long neck by Il Miracolo in the Ghostzapper Stakes (GIII). Luis Saez has the call on Tumbarumba from the rail.

Here is the field for the Ack Ack from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

• Tumbarumba (Saez, Lynch)
• Stage Raider (Brian Hernandez Jr., DeVaux)
• Cagliostro (Ortiz, DeVaux)
• Mufasa (CHI) (Tyler Gaffalione, Ignacio Correas IV)
• Three Technique (Rafael Bejarano, Jason Cook)
• Big Blue Line (Axel Concepcion, Will Walden)
• Saudi Crown (Geroux, Cox)

The Ack Ack will award the winner an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile, run Nov. 2 at del Mar. The nominated winner will also be entitled to have their pre-entry and entry fees waived along with a travel stipend if they are based outside California.