Warrior's Charge Auditions for BC Dirt Mile in Ack Ack

After running 17 stakes from Sept. 1-5 during its rescheduled Derby Week of racing amid COVID-19, Churchill Downs wraps up the final weekend of its September meet with the Ack Ack Stakes (G3) Sept. 26. The Ack Ack comes on Churchill's penultimate card, and Kentucky racing shifts to Keeneland next month.

Though its $100,000 purse is modest, 13 horses entered the one-mile stakes race on dirt, led by Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables' Warrior's Charge.

Trained by Brad Cox, Warrior's Charge was elevated to first in a controversial disqualification in last month's Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park for interference by Pirate's Punch that was deemed of consequence by track stewards. He crossed the wire a length and a half behind that rival, who returned to win the Salvatore Mile Stakes (G3) last week at the New Jersey track.

A 4-year-old son of Munnings , Warrior's Charge this year won the Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park and finished second behind By My Standards in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2). He was also fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park this summer.

Coming at the same distance as the two-turn Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 7, the Ack Ack could generate starters for that race. It is not an official qualifier.

Jockey Florent Geroux figures to ask Warrior's Charge to flash his customary speed from the inside post.

Other notable entrants include three-time graded stakes winner American Anthem, 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up Everfast, four-time grade 3 victor and grade 1-placed Mr. Money, and multiple stakes winner Pioneer Spirit.

Rolling into the Ack Ack on a three-race win streak is Ebben. A promising first-level allowance winner at Churchill Downs late in his 2-year-old year, he went cold at 3 and 4 before coming alive this summer at 5 for trainer Steve Margolis. His victories on his current hot streak have come from seven furlongs to a mile.

"He just really likes the Churchill track and the one-turn distance," Margolis said. "He wants to run a little more than three quarters. He is just happy now and doing good."

He partners with jockey Corey Lanerie, who is 4-for-9 when riding the Trappe Shot gelding. 

"(Lanerie) has a good rapport with him. He just kind of lets him run his race," Margolis said.

Ebben runs for J S Stables, the racing operation of Janelle and Sam Aguiar. The latter is one of the lawyers for the family of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman fatally shot by Louisville police as they were serving a warrant at her home in an incident that has drawn national attention and protests.  

The Ack Ack is the ninth race on a 10-race program with post time set for 4:53 p.m. ET.

Entries: Ack Ack S. (G3)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, September 26, 2020, Race 9

• Grade III
• 1m
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:53 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Warrior's Charge (FL)	Florent Geroux	123	Brad H. Cox	9/5
2	2Bourbon Calling (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	121	Ian R. Wilkes	12/1
3	3Proverb (FL)	Adam Beschizza	121	Richard Baltas	30/1
4	4American Anthem (KY)	James Graham	121	Michael J. Maker	5/1
5	5Mr. Money (KY)	Gabriel Saez	121	W. Bret Calhoun	6/1
6	6Pioneer Spirit (KY)	David Cohen	121	Robertino Diodoro	12/1
7	7Alkhaatam (KY)	Declan Cannon	121	Daniel C. Peitz	20/1
8	8Ebben (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	121	Steve Margolis	5/1
9	9Bankit (NY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	121	Steven M. Asmussen	10/1
10	10Thirstforlife (KY)	Chris Landeros	121	Wesley E. Hawley	30/1
11	11Dinar (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	121	Cherie DeVaux	30/1
12	12Home Base (ON)	Joseph Rocco, Jr.	121	Michael A. Tomlinson	30/1
13	13Everfast (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	121	Jack Sisterson	10/1