Ack Ack- Grade III
1 mile Dirt Stake Purse $400.000 Three-Year-Olds And Upward. At CD

1st    Distant Breeze                The Sidley Stud        *1.15-1 (HRP) 3-1 (SRF)

Distant Breeze seems almost unbeatable these days especially on the dirt mile. Ack Ack was his third dirt mile and his third dirt mile win… and it was classy, smooth as silk. Concepcion held him close to the pace from the start, eased him into contention heading for the far turn, opened up a clear lead heading home and then it was just cruising in hand, never really challenged to the wire.

2nd      Themefrom Antarctica          Ajm Stables          52.10-1 (HRP) 5-1 (SRF)

Third race in a row following Distant Breeze home, this time Themefrom Antarctica laid last into the stretch, perhaps waiting too long to launch, then came flying home to fall a length short at the wire. It was a powerful finish possibly mistimed, although Distant Breeze seemed to have the race in hand.

3rd      Excogitator            Family Racing                13.90-1 (HRP) 8-1 (SRF)

Excogitator as usual stalked the pace early, but held back longer than usual, and when he finally did make his move, it was too little too late; better than expected, but still oddly disappointing.

4th      Schopenhauer            Maxmillion Farm            5.90-1 (HRP) *2-1 (SRF)

I thought his victory over Distant Breeze last out in The Iselin Stakes would make him the favourite here and second best, but I guess a sixteenth of a mile means more than I thought both in odds and in performance as Schopenhauer went off at nearly 6-1 and finished exactly where those odds said he would… weird. Anyway, he showed some interest early on as he challenged the lead in the first quarter, but he just fell off rather continuously until he was four lengths behind at the wire.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES