The 18th Running of the G3 Ack Ack
Saturday, October 1, 2022
CD Race #1 $300.000
3+ 121/124 Lbs 1-Mile
AUTO-QUALIFIER FOR G1 BC DIRT MILE
Course/Stakes Record-1:33.90 (Hollywood Eclipse-2021)
White Sunshine, previously winless in three forays into graded company, punched his ticket to the G1 BC Dirt Mile with a length-and-a-quarter victory in Saturday’s G3 Ack Ack at CD. Racing beneath the Twin Spires for the first time, the Smokey Stover-trainee completed the one-turn mile in 1:34.48 and improved his race record to 12-4-2-1 with $415.080 in earnings.
Away from stall 10, White Sunshine found the two-path shortly after the break and raced some 3-4 lengths off of the early pace. Dime Defense pushed the eventual winner out another path as Papa Nature completed the opening quarter in :23.37. White Sunshine was pushed further from the rail by an early move by Jump The Line inside of Dime Defense with five furlongs to run.
Though four-wide, White Sunshine was running comfortably in 5th while still about four lengths off of Papa Nature’s :46.70 half-mile pace. The winner eased-out another path, this time by his own choosing, as he moved outside of the path of Hint Of Sugar.
Papa Nature’s lead had shrank to just a length as he completed three-quarters in 1:10.19 and White Sunshine began his move towards the front. The winner inhaled the three horses in front of him in less than a furlong. White Sunshine reached the final furlong on top, but Walk Naked was making a move down the crown of the course. Though drifting-out a bit in the final 100-yards, White Sunshine held sway to post a length-and-a-quarter victory. Walk Naked’s rally earned him the place by a nose over Dime Defense while Sunderland Til I Die was another half-length back in fourth. Completing the order of finish were Hint Of Sugar, Papa Nature, Unicorn, Farleysgotsaltynuts, Jump The Line, Hot Dog, and Hang Around.
Congratulations to White Sunshine and Smokey Stover on their G3 Ack Ack victory and good luck to them as they ready for the BC!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
