Cubbies Root, Root, Root Act of Parliament to Victory

The Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball flew the 'W' Sept. 17 at Churchill Downs when Alex Bregman's Act of Parliament rallied to win the final race of the evening with nearly the entire team there to celebrate. Bregman, third baseman for the Cubs, races as Bregman Family Racing. The Cubs used their Thursday off day to visit Churchill Downs before beginning a three-game series Sept. 19 against the Cincinnati Reds. The Louisville, Ky., track is less than a two-hour drive to Cincinnati in southwestern Ohio. Trained by Will Walden, Act of Parliament overcame a troubled start and rallied five-wide under Axel Concepcion to win the 6 1/2-furlong maiden claiming event by three-quarters of a length. The 3-year-old son of Quality Road completed the distance in 1:18.07 and returned $8.68. "It was electric," Walden said. "To have Alex and the entire team here and then have the horse come through like that made it a pretty special night." The evening quickly became a team affair. Several Cubs rookies dressed in racing-themed costumes, including pitcher Ryan Rolison, who spent part of the evening in a horse costume, and Pedro Ramirez, who dressed as a jockey. Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong also delivered a paddock pep talk to Act of Parliament before the race. "PCA pep talk, we couldn't lose," Bregman said. Apparently, he was right. Act of Parliament, who was squeezed at the start, settled off the pace before circling the field five-wide and getting up in the final strides. "What a fun night," Concepcion said. "It was so awesome to have the support of the entire team. You could hear them and feel the energy. It was something I'll never forget." The celebration carried into the winner's circle, where Cubs players chanted "Axel" before lifting Concepcion into the air. Manager Craig Counsell even got involved and led Act of Parliament into the winner's circle after the race. Act of Parliament, who was purchased for $65,000 at the Fasig-Tipton August Digital Sale and banked $27,108 Thursday, was claimed in a six-way shake for $20,000 by Four Corners Racing, Cory Moelis Racing and Jeremy Sussman and transferred to trainer Matt Shirer.