Breeders’ Cup spot on line for Awesome Slew, The Player

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The $100,000 Ack Ack might offer only half the purse of the Saturday feature at Churchill Downs – the $200,000 Lukas Classic – but it might well have much more impact on the Breeders’ Cup in five weeks.

Whereas the Lukas Classic appears unlikely to produce any candidates for the Nov. 3-4 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, the Grade 3 Ack Ack drew at least two starters – Awesome Slew and The Player – whose connections are looking to use the oneturn mile race as a final stepping-stone to the BC Dirt Mile.

Awesome Slew, with his superior Beyer Speed Figures and overall form, is the most likely to advance to California. Trainer Mark Casse said he is encouraged by the class and consistency the Live Oak homebred has shown in the last eight months.

“He shows up, and he usually

shows up big,” Casse said. “We’ve pretty much settled on a mile being his ideal distance, whether it’s one turn or two.”

Whereas Awesome Slew has proven his mettle, having regularly faced some of the best miler types on the continent, The Player will be looking to finally capitalize on his stilluntapped potential.

“After the three races he’s had since his layoff, I really feel like he’s the best he’s ever been,” trainer Buff Bradley said. “Absolutely, we’d love to make the Breeders’ Cup with him. Hopefully he’ll show us Saturday that he deserves to go.”

A field of nine is entered in the 25th Ack Ack, with Warrior’s Club and Harmac the lone 3-year-olds. Warrior’s Club, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, is owned by the Churchill Downs Racing Club, whose 200 ownership partners have reveled in seeing the colt earn nearly $300,000 from 16 prior starts.

The rest of the Ack Ack field includes Zulu, Conquest Big E, Etruscan, Pinson, and Gray Sky.

The Ack Ack, named for the 1971 Horse of the Year who won the 1969 Derby Trial in his lone start at Churchill, directly follows the Lukas Classic as the 10th of 11 races.

KEY CONTENDERS

Awesome Slew, by Awesome Again Last 3 Beyers: 99-98-99

◗ Florida-bred 4-year-old figures as a solid favorite here after finishing second at seven furlongs in his last two starts behind two of the biggest names in the land, Mind Your Biscuits and Drefong. The Player, by Street Hero Last 3 Beyers: 86-89-88

◗ His two victories at the 2016 Churchill spring meet were visually powerful, and after getting nearly a year off because of a small knee chip, this 4-yearold colt has progressed steadily in three starts in approaching top form again.

Warrior’s Club, by Warrior’s Reward Last 3 Beyers: 91-91-69

◗ A last-out allowance victory helped close out a memorable final weekend of the Saratoga meet for his legendary trainer, who proceeded to win the Grade 1 Hopeful with the since-sidelined Sporting Chance.

Zulu, by Bernardini Last 3 Beyers: 81-87-87

◗ Originally purchased for $900,000, this 4-year-old has posted a number of sharp local works since being turned over to Wayne Catalano following several noteworthy efforts for trainer Todd Pletcher.