Multiple graded stakes winner Bishops Bay, owned by Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, Michael Caruso, and WinStar Farm, has been named the 9-5 favorite in the 34th edition of the $400,000 Ack Ack (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs this Saturday. Meanwhile, in the race preceding the Ack Ack, Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Stimulate was installed as the 9-5 favorite in the sixth running of the $300,000 Bourbon Flight, also at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Brad Cox, Bishops Bay comes into the Ack Ack after a close win in the August 15 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park, where the 6-year-old son of Uncle Mo edged out Chunk of Gold by a neck. Before that, he narrowly lost by a nose to another Ack Ack contender, East Avenue, in the Salvator Mile (G3) on June 13. Last year, Bishops Bay collected victories in the Cigar Mile (G2), Forty Niner Stakes (G3), Salvator Mile, and Westchester Stakes (G3). He will be ridden by jockey Tyler Gaffalione and start from post position 4.
Stimulate, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, is one of two entries he has in the Bourbon Flight, the other being Steel, owned by Barrett Bernard and Terry Stephens. Steel, a 3-year-old son of Tapit, secured a first-level allowance win at Saratoga a month ago as the favorite and will break from post 5 with Luis Saez aboard.
Here is the full Ack Ack field lineup, from the inside post outward, with jockeys, trainers, and morning line odds; the race is the ninth on the card at 4:58 p.m.:
1. Macho Music (Jareth Loveberry, Rohan Crichton, 20-1)
2. Arrowthegreat (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dan Blacker, 15-1)
3. Owen Almighty (Francisco Arrieta, Brian Lynch, 7-2)
4. Bishops Bay (Tyler Gaffalione, Brad Cox, 9-5)
5. Prince of Power (TBA, Jacobson, 30-1)
6. Coal Battle (Juan Vargas, Lonnie Briley, 8-1)
7. East Avenue (Cristian Torres, Brendan Walsh, 4-1)
8. Nu What’s New (Luis Saez, Christopher DiVito, 3-1)
The Bourbon Flight field, also listed from the inside post outward for Race 8 at 4:26 p.m., includes:
1. Plutarch (Francisco Arrieta, Bob Baffert, 5-2)
2. Blackout Time (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 6-1)
3. Steel (Tyler Gaffalione, Bill Mott, 8-1)
4. Infiltrate (Cristian Torres, Brendan Walsh, 12-1)
5. Stimulate (Luis Saez, Bill Mott, 9-5)
6. Local Knowledge (Jaime Torres, Todd Pletcher, 3-1)
This report was initially published by Paulick Report on September 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section.
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Fan Take: The anticipation surrounding Bishops Bay’s and Stimulate’s races highlights key competitive matchups that could shape the future landscape of graded stakes racing. These marquee events not only showcase emerging and established talent but also keep fans engaged and invested in the evolving narratives within thoroughbred racing.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
