Ack Ack Stakes
Horse race
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.
History
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+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs : 1994–2005
1+ 1 ⁄16 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
Speed record
1 mile: 1:33.78 – Pants On Fire (2013)
7+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs: 1:27.15 – Cappuchino (2003)
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles: 1:43.79 - Apart (2010)
Margins
8+ 3 ⁄4 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
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+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:45.68
$109,700
III
[ 18]
2010
Apart
3
Garrett K. Gomez
Albert Stall Jr.
Adele B. Dilschneider
1+ 1 ⁄16 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+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:28.34
$112,200
III
[ 24]
2004
Sir Cherokee
4
Calvin H. Borel
Michael A. Tomlinson
Domino Stud
7+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:29.48
$165,300
III
[ 25]
2003
Cappuchino
4
Jon Court
Jerry Hollendorfer
Howard Litt, George Todaro, Jerry Hollendorfer
7+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:27.15
$165,450
III
[ 26]
2002
Twilight Road
5
Pat Day
Paul J. McGee
Donamire Farm
7+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:29.39
$112,700
III
[ 27]
2001
Illusioned
3
Pat Day
William I. Mott
Kinsman Stable , Team Valor & Heiligbrodt Stable
7+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:28.63
$114,300
III
[ 28]
2000
Chindi
6
Timothy T. Doocy
Steve Hobby
Cres Ran
7+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:29.30
$113,700
III
[ 29]
1999
Littlebitlively
5
Calvin H. Borel
Bobby C. Barnett
John A. Franks
7+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:28.97
$115,600
III
[ 30]
1998
Distorted Humor
5
Calvin H. Borel
W. Elliott Walden
Russell L. Reineman & Prestonwood Farm
7+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:29.61
$110,100
III
[ 31]
1997
Cat's Career
4
Willie Martinez
Lynn S. Whiting
Golden Eagle Farm
7+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:32.06
$111,500
III
[ 32]
1996
Western Trader
5
Calvin H. Borel
Bobby C. Barnett
John A. Franks
7+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs
1:29.84
$113,400
Listed
[ 33]
1995
Mystery Storm
3
Carlos Gonzalez
Larry Robideaux Jr.
David Beard
7+ 1 ⁄2 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+ 1 ⁄2 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
References