Hit Show was all heart over the sloppy track at Churchill Downs Sept. 28, running down a game Cooke Creek to win the $500,000 Lukas Classic Stakes (G2).
"He was able to really finish up strong," said trainer Brad Cox. "He had to really fight Cooke Creek to get there, but overall big effort."
Jockey Florent Geroux got the 4-year-old son of Candy Ride in the perfect spot, sitting fourth along the rail just a few lengths off the top flight. Cooke Creek set an honest pace of :23.62, :47.50, and 1:11.97 while hounded by Stilleto Boy and Warrior Johny, who both gave way on the far turn.
Geroux called on Hit Show at the 5/16th pole and began to rally down the center of the track. Cooke Creek and Luis Saez drifted out to meet him in the center and the pair slugged it out for a furlong, Hit Show emerging on top by a neck.
Rattle N Roll, returning from a year-long layoff, and favored Disarm closed from the back to finish third and fourth, respectively.
Hit Show stopped the clock for 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.44 while paying $8.56 to win.
The victory was a third in four starts this year and a second consecutive graded win for the gray or roan colt bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West Stables. He is now 6-1-0 from 13 starts and broke millionaire status with $1,079,515 in earnings. His sire, Candy Ride, stood the 2024 season at Lane's End Farm for $75,000.
The Lukas Classic has produced a starter in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) each of the last three years, including Cox's Classic winner Knicks Go in 2021, but Cox said he is uncertain where Hit Show will head next. The decision will come after discussing with Wathnan Racing, who acquired Hit Show from the Wests after his victory in the Aug. 4 West Virginia Governor's Stakes (G3) at Mountaineer Racetrack Casino & Resort. The man behind Wathnan is Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, a newer player in the ownership game.
"Brad's done an excellent job with Hit Show and (Geroux) rode him great. It's exciting for Wathnan Racing," said Wathnan's racing manager Case Clay.
The victory capped Wathnan's big day as four of their 13 horses in training hit the board in graded company Saturday. Three hours before the Lukas, Subsanador fought for victory in the California Crown (G1) at Santa Anita Park. Two races earlier at Churchill, Tumbarumba and Cagliostro finished second and third, respectively, in the Ack Ack (G3).
"It's been a really fun day," Clay said. "It's nice to have a bit of luck on your side."
Video: Lukas Classic S. (G2)
Everything Goes Right for Three Technique in Ack Ack
For the first time in 2024, everything went right for Three Technique and it led to a trip to the winner's circle as he emerged victorious in the $365,000 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
The 7-year-old son of Mr Speaker started the season 0-for-4 without hitting the board, a disappointing result after a career best year that saw him win the John A. Nerud Stakes (G2) in 2023.
"Everything that could go wrong this year has gone wrong," said trainer Jason Cook.
The dark bay or brown horse's misfortunes included developing a small fracture in his jaw after grabbing onto a crossbar 1 1/2 months before his seasonal debut in the May 4 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1).
Saturday beneath the lights at Churchill Downs was a different story, with the first thing going right being the scratch of heavy favorite and expected pacesetter Saudi Crown due to a foot injury.
In last year's Ack Ack, Three Technique finished third behind a loose leader in Zozos. This year, jockey Rafael Bejarano executed their plan to perfection. Sitting last of four, Three Technique gradually inched closer during the one-turn mile as Tumbarumba, Stage Raider, and Cagliostro battled throughout.
Following fractions of :23.02, :46.24, and 1:11.26, Bejarano swung wide into the stretch and began motoring down the center of the track, collaring Tumbarumba at the sixteenth pole and winning by 1 1/2 lengths. Cagliostro finished third.
Three Technique stopped the clock in 1:36.77 and paid $12.58.
Owned by Eric Grindley, David Miller, Howard Preuss, and John Werner, Three Technique became racing's newest millionaire with $1,186,237 in earnings with a record of 7-6-8 from 39 starts. Bred in Kentucky by Omega Farm and Bally Breeders, Three Technique is the first graded winner this season for Mr Speaker, who stood the 2024 season at Forks of the Paluxy in Bluff Dale, Texas, for a fee of $5,000. He is out of the winning graded stakes-placed Harlan's Holiday mare Nite in Rome.
Through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, the win gives Three Technique an automatic spot in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 2. However, Cook is uncertain whether they will accept. The horse has raced in both the Dirt Mile and Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) in the past, and neither seemed to fit his race.
"A sprint race is too short, he's never run good over two turns," Cook said. "Of course tonight, he never had run good over the slop."
For now, Cook is alright with savoring the victory.
"I always wanted to win this race. It's my hometown, it's the kind of race I like," Cook said. "My dad won a grade 3 here 58 years ago. It's kind of the same race."
