The Ack Ack Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old and older, over a distance of one mile on the dirt held annually in September at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.

Ack Ack Stakes
Grade III race
LocationChurchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated1991 (as Ack Ack Handicap)
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
WebsiteChurchill Downs
Race information
Distance1 mile (8 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and older
WeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 125 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
PurseUS$300,000 (2021)
BonusesWinner receives automatic entrance to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

History

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The race is named for the great Ack Ack, inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Horse of the Year in 1971, as well as ranking number 44 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century. At age 3, he won the 1969 Derby Trial in his lone start at Churchill Downs with a time of 1:34.40, which was a track record at the time.[1]

Since inception in 1991, the Ack Ack has been contested at three different distances:[2]

  • 1 mile : 1991, 2006–2009, 2012
  • 7+12 furlongs : 1994–2005
  • 1+116 miles : 2010, 2011 (Breeders' Cup)

The inaugural running of the event was on 27 October 1991 with Seven Spades the longest price runner in the field of 12 at 40-1 holding on to win by a neck in a time of 1:37.62 for the mile on the sloppy track.[3]

The event was not held in 1992 and 1993.[2]

Previously a Listed race, it was upgraded to Grade III status for 1997 by the American Graded Stakes Committee.[4]

Sin 2013 the event has been scheduled in September and in 2016 the conditions of the event were changed from handicap to stakes allowance.[2]

Records

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Speed record

  • 1 mile: 1:33.78 – Pants On Fire (2013)
  • 7+12 furlongs: 1:27.15 – Cappuchino (2003)
  • 1+116 miles: 1:43.79 - Apart (2010)

Margins

  • 8+34 lengths – Istan (2007)

Most wins

  • No horse has won this race more than once.

Most wins by a jockey

Most wins by a trainer

Most wins by an owner

Winners

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Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
Ack Ack Stakes
2024 Three Technique 7 Rafael Bejarano Jason Cook Eric Grindley, David E. Miller, Howard F. Preuss & John Werner 1 mile 1:35.32 $365,000 III [5]
2023 Zozos 4 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Barry & Joni Butzow 1 mile 1:35.32 $400,000 III [6]
2022 Senor Buscador 4 Francisco Arrieta Todd W. Fincher Joe R. Peacock Jr. 1 mile 1:34.60 $300,000 III [7]
2021 Plainsman 6 Joel Rosario Brad H. Cox Shortleaf Stable 1 mile 1:33.85 $297,250 III [8]
2020 Mr. Money 4 Gabriel Saez W. Bret Calhoun Allied Racing Stable & Spendthrift Farm 1 mile 1:34.85 $100,000 III [9]
2019 Mr Freeze 4 Robby Albarado Dale L. Romans Jim Bakke & Gerald Isbister 1 mile 1:34.11 $150,000 III [10]
2018 Seeking the Soul 5 Brian Hernandez Jr. Dallas Stewart Charles E. Fipke 1 mile 1:35.01 $100,000 III [11]
2017 Awesome Slew 4 Corey J. Lanerie Mark E. Casse Live Oak Plantation 1 mile 1:35.02 $100,000 III [12]
2016 Tom's Ready 3 Brian Hernandez Jr. Dallas Stewart G M B Racing 1 mile 1:34.86 $100,000 III [13]
Ack Ack Handicap
2015 Tapiture 4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds 1 mile 1:35.39 $100,000 III [14]
2014 Bradester 4 Corey J. Lanerie Eddie Kenneally Joseph W. Sutton 1 mile 1:34.54 $107,300 III [15]
2013 Pants On Fire 5 Paco Lopez Kelly J. Breen Lori & George Hall 1 mile 1:33.78 $110,700 III [16]
2012 Neck 'n Neck 3 Brian Hernandez Jr. Ian R. Wilkes A. Stevens Miles Jr. 1 mile 1:36.38 $110,400 III [17]
2011 Mister Marti Gras 3 Julien R. Leparoux Chris M. Block Lothenbach Stables 1+116 miles 1:45.68 $109,700 III [18]
2010 Apart 3 Garrett K. Gomez Albert Stall Jr. Adele B. Dilschneider 1+116 miles 1:43.79 $108,600 III [19]
2009 Demarcation 5 Jesus Lopez Castanon Paul J. McGee Amerman Racing 1 mile 1:36.15 $111,000 III [20]
2008 Magna Graduate 6 Shaun Bridgmohan Steven M. Asmussen Elizabeth H. Alexander 1 mile 1:36:06 $108,200 III [21]
2007 Istan 5 Kent J. Desormeaux William I. Mott Darpat S.L. Stables 1 mile 1:34.08 $221,600 III [22]
2006 It's No Joke 4 Robby Albarado Rebecca Maker Stanley E. Fulton 1 mile 1:34.77 $232,800 III [23]
2005 Straight Line 3 Shaun Bridgmohan Harvey L. Vanier Nancy A. Vanier & Cartwright Thoroughbreds 7+12 furlongs 1:28.34 $112,200 III [24]
2004 Sir Cherokee 4 Calvin H. Borel Michael A. Tomlinson Domino Stud 7+12 furlongs 1:29.48 $165,300 III [25]
2003 Cappuchino 4 Jon Court Jerry Hollendorfer Howard Litt, George Todaro, Jerry Hollendorfer 7+12 furlongs 1:27.15 $165,450 III [26]
2002 Twilight Road 5 Pat Day Paul J. McGee Donamire Farm 7+12 furlongs 1:29.39 $112,700 III [27]
2001 Illusioned 3 Pat Day William I. Mott Kinsman Stable, Team Valor & Heiligbrodt Stable 7+12 furlongs 1:28.63 $114,300 III [28]
2000 Chindi 6 Timothy T. Doocy Steve Hobby Cres Ran 7+12 furlongs 1:29.30 $113,700 III [29]
1999 Littlebitlively 5 Calvin H. Borel Bobby C. Barnett John A. Franks 7+12 furlongs 1:28.97 $115,600 III [30]
1998 Distorted Humor 5 Calvin H. Borel W. Elliott Walden Russell L. Reineman & Prestonwood Farm 7+12 furlongs 1:29.61 $110,100 III [31]
1997 Cat's Career 4 Willie Martinez Lynn S. Whiting Golden Eagle Farm 7+12 furlongs 1:32.06 $111,500 III [32]
1996 Western Trader 5 Calvin H. Borel Bobby C. Barnett John A. Franks 7+12 furlongs 1:29.84 $113,400 Listed [33]
1995 Mystery Storm 3 Carlos Gonzalez Larry Robideaux Jr. David Beard 7+12 furlongs 1:29.10 $116,400 Listed [34]
1994 Lost Pan 4 Donna M. Barton D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm, D. Wayne Lukas & Jim McDonald 7+12 furlongs 1:30.27 $84,300 Listed [35]
1992–1993 Race not held
1991 Seven Spades 4 Danny W. Cox C. Neil Huffman Duane Clark 1 mile 1:37.60 $59,250 Listed [3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Churchill Downs (2021). "$300,000 Ack Ack (Grade III)" (PDF). KentuckyDerby.com. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Ack Ack Stakes (Gr. 3)". Equibase. 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b "1991 Ack Ack Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 27 October 1991. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  4. ^ "ACK ACK HANDICAP - CHURCHILL DOWNS, KY". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  5. ^ "2024 Ack Ack Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  6. ^ "2023 Ack Ack Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  7. ^ "2022 Ack Ack Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  8. ^ "2021 Ack Ack Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  9. ^ "2020 Ack Ack Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  10. ^ "2019 Ack Ack Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  11. ^ "2018 Ack Ack Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  12. ^ "2017 Ack Ack Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  13. ^ "2016 Ack Ack Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  14. ^ "2015 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  15. ^ "2014 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 4)". Equibase. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  16. ^ "2013 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 7 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  17. ^ "2012 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  18. ^ "2011 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 3)". Equibase. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  19. ^ "2010 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 4)". Equibase. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  20. ^ "2009 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  21. ^ "2008 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 26 October 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  22. ^ "2007 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 3 November 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  23. ^ "2006 Emirates Airline Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 2)". Equibase. 4 November 2006. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  24. ^ "2005 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 30 October 2005. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  25. ^ "2004 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 31 October 2004. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  26. ^ "2003 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 26 October 2003. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  27. ^ "2002 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 October 2002. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  28. ^ "2001 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 28 October 2001. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  29. ^ "2000 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 29 October 2000. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  30. ^ "1999 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 31 October 1999. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  31. ^ "1998 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 1 November 1998. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  32. ^ "1997 Ack Ack Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 October 1997. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  33. ^ "1996 Ack Ack Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 27 October 1996. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  34. ^ "1995 Ack Ack Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 29 October 1995. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  35. ^ "1994 Ack Ack Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 30 October 1994. Retrieved 22 September 2021.