Stumble delivered the decisive move when it mattered most, advancing from seventh through the first three calls before sweeping past the leaders to capture the Ack Ack-G3 at Churchill Downs. The five-year-old went off at just over 9/2 for owner/trainer Mb Stables, with Beschizza A aboard, and completed the mile in 1:34.04.

Race Recap

The Ack Ack – Grade III, contested September 26, 2026 at Churchill Downs, brought together eight older horses over one mile on a fast dirt track for a purse of $400.000. Stumble prevailed over Classic Look, with Gold third and post-time favorite Berlin fourth. The finish also produced a dead heat for fifth between Obi Wan and Heavy Current. Cherokee Monster was seventh and Run Champ Run eighth. The recorded fractions were :22.4, :46.1, 1:10 and a final time of 1:34.

What made Stumble’s victory particularly notable was the shape of his trip. He was seventh at each of the first three calls while Berlin and Obi Wan established the early positions. Rather than making gradual positional gains, Stumble remained seventh before producing the race-changing advance at the final call. Classic Look also improved steadily from fourth to second, while Gold moved from sixth to third.

The Running — Flow & Calls

First Call: Berlin established the lead by a nose, with Obi Wan second by a nose. Run Champ Run occupied third, Classic Look was fourth, Heavy Current fifth and Gold sixth. Stumble was seventh, with Cherokee Monster eighth. At this stage, Stumble was six positions behind the leader and had yet to improve his placement.

Second Call: Berlin continued to lead by a nose, and Obi Wan remained second by a nose. Run Champ Run held third while Classic Look stayed fourth. Gold made the first significant positional advance among the eventual top finishers, moving from sixth to fifth. Heavy Current slipped from fifth to sixth. Stumble remained seventh, and Cherokee Monster continued eighth.

Third Call: Berlin was still in command, now leading by three-quarters. Obi Wan remained second, also separated by three-quarters, while Classic Look advanced from fourth to third. Gold continued his progression, moving from fifth to fourth. Run Champ Run began losing ground positionally, falling from third to fifth. Heavy Current remained sixth, Stumble was still seventh and Cherokee Monster remained eighth.

The race had therefore developed with Berlin and Obi Wan occupying the first two positions through all three calls. Classic Look and Gold were advancing behind them, but Stumble had not improved his seventh-place position at any of those calls. Stumble’s eventual victory consequently came entirely from what happened after that third call.

Final Call: Stumble produced the largest move in the race, going from seventh to first and stopping the clock in 1:34.04. Classic Look continued his steady progression from fourth to fourth to third before finishing second. Gold’s advance was similarly sustained, moving sixth to fifth to fourth before taking third.

Berlin, after leading at each of the first three calls, yielded to finish fourth. Obi Wan, second through all three calls, dropped to fifth. Heavy Current advanced from sixth to fifth at the finish and reached the wire on even terms with Obi Wan, producing the dead heat for fifth shown in the chart. Cherokee Monster improved from eighth to seventh, while Run Champ Run, who had been third at the opening two calls, retreated to fifth at the third call and ultimately finished eighth.

The contrast was striking: Berlin and Obi Wan occupied the first two positions for most of the race, while the eventual first three finishers — Stumble, Classic Look and Gold — were seventh, third and fourth respectively at the third call. The closing portion completely reordered the race.

Each Runner Mentioned

Stumble — Sat seventh through each of the first three calls before producing the winning move and advancing all the way to first.

Classic Look — Raced fourth through the first two calls, advanced to third and continued forward to take second.

Gold — Ran considerably better than his 36.70 source odds suggested. He advanced from sixth to fifth to fourth before finishing third, missing second by only a nose according to the chart.

Berlin — The post-time favorite controlled the race through the first three calls, leading at each one, before finishing fourth. His past performance confirms the *2.30 designation for the Ack Ack.

Obi Wan — Stayed immediately behind Berlin in second through all three calls before weakening to a dead heat for fifth.

Heavy Current — Raced fifth, then sixth at the next two calls before improving to share fifth with Obi Wan at the finish.

Cherokee Monster — Remained eighth through the first three calls before passing one rival and finishing seventh.

Run Champ Run — Held third through the first two calls but dropped to fifth at the third call and finished eighth.

About The Winner

Stumble’s victory was his eighth from 23 lifetime starts and his third victory of 2026. His past performances entering the Ack Ack listed lifetime earnings of $735.550, including $471.270 earned during 2026. He had also already won six of 12 route starts before this performance.

Stumble is a five-year-old bay horse by Rumble out of Indecisive, bred in New York by Mb Stables and currently owned by Mb Stables. His lifetime earnings entering the Ack Ack were $735.550.

Track: Fast
Time: :22⁴  :46¹  1:10  1:34

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 7 – 4 Paid 34.00
$1 Trifecta: 7 – 4 – 8 Paid 1,641.30

Scratched: None

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES