Churchill Downs Stakes Recaps and Mandatory Derby City 6 Force-Out for Closing Day: Dragoon Guard Rolls in Grade II, $498,000 Lukas Classic to Give Gaffalione Sixth Win of Day

Sep 26, 2026

Dragoon Guard rated off a fast early pace and powered home down the stretch to easily win Saturday’s 13th running of the $498,000 Lukas Classic (Grade II) for 3-year-olds and up at Churchill Downs by 3 ¼ lengths over the tiring early leader Chunk of Gold.

Dragoon Guard stopped the teletimer in 1:48.35 for 1 1/8 miles over a fast track. A red-hot Tyler Gaffalione rode the winner for trainer Brad Cox and owner/breeder Juddmonte.

Gaffalione became only the 13th jockey to win six races in a day at Churchill Downs and the first since Luis Saez won with six of his 12 mounts on Nov. 26, 2022. Pat Day (June 20, 1984) and Julien Leparoux (Nov. 11, 2008) share the Churchill Downs record of seven wins in a day. Gaffalione had a chance to equal their mark aboard his 10th mount of the day, Hereforagoodtime, in the finale but was run down late by Snipsnippitysnip.

“It’s been a really special day winning six races and two stakes,” Gaffalione said. “This race is always very special and I’m thankful to the connections for letting me ride (Dragoon Guard). He made a big run for me.”

Chunk of Gold, last year’s West Virginia Derby (GIII) winner, and Banishing, who prevailed in the $1 million Godolphin Mile (GII) in March, dictated the terms in the field of five older horses with a blistering opening quarter mile in :22.59 as Dragoon Guard relaxed in the clear in fourth. The leaders backed down the pace with a half-mile in :46.64 but a menacing Dragoon Guard was closing into the margin with an outside move. Third into the final turn, Dragoon Guard passed a fading Banishing and came within a half-length of Chunk of Gold after six furlongs in 1:10.75. It was all Dragoon Guard down the stretch as he drew clear for the 3 ¼-length victory.

Overall, Dragoon Guard has won seven of 17 starts with five seconds and two thirds. The $308,000 first prize boosted his career earnings to $1,297,171 en route to becoming horse racing’s newest millionaire.

The Lukas Classic was Dragoon Guard’s third stakes win. At age 3, he won the $300,000 Indiana Derby (GIII) and $500,000 West Virginia Derby (GIII).

“It had been a while since he’d won a graded stakes after what he accomplished at 3,” Cox said. “He didn’t accomplish quite what we hoped at 4, and it had been somewhat of the same story this year. But he paired two strong figures in his last two races, winning at Indiana and then coming back with a comparable number at Charles Town, even though it may not look that way in the running line. He came into today in good form, had trained well and we felt like we were going to get a good run out of him. I thought it was very impressive. We’ll see how things shape up over the next month. It was an impressive performance, but we don’t have to make any decisions today.”

In Dragoon Guard’s previous start, he finished seventh in the $1 million Charles Town Classic (GII) on Aug. 28.

Dragoon Guard, the 3-1 third betting choice, returned $8.94, $3.48 and $3.04. Chunk of Gold, ridden by Jaime Torres, paid $3.54 and $2.60 as the 5-2 second betting choice. It was another length back to This Is Uscar in third under Edgar Morales who paid $3.76 to show at 5-1.

Tiztastic, bet down to the 9-5 favorite, was fourth and was followed by Banishing. McAfee and Original Sin were scratched.

Dragoon Guard is a grey or roan son of Arrogate out of the Mizzen Mast mare Filimbi and was bred in Kentucky by his owner.

The Lukas Classic honors the iconic Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who passed away in 2025 at age 89. Lukas was a four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks and conditioner of 26 Eclipse Award-winning champions. Former Lukas assistant Dallas Stewart presented the trophy to the winning connections.

LUKAS CLASSIC QUOTES

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey, Dragoon Guard, winner: “It’s been a really special day winning six races and two stakes. This race is always very special and I’m thankful to the connections for letting me ride (Dragoon Guard). He made a big run for me.”

Brad Cox, trainer, Dragoon Guard, winner: “It had been a while since he’d won a graded stakes after what he accomplished at 3. He didn’t accomplish quite what we hoped at 4, and it had been somewhat of the same story this year. But he paired two strong figures in his last two races, winning at Indiana and then coming back with a comparable number at Charles Town, even though it may not look that way in the running line. He came into today in good form, had trained well and we felt like we were going to get a good run out of him. I thought it was very impressive. We’ll see how things shape up over the next month. It was an impressive performance, but we don’t have to make any decisions today.”

Ethan West, trainer, Chunk of Gold, runner-up: “It was a really fast pace and he didn’t have things easy up there early. We’re proud how he kept fighting back down the lane and was just second best today.”

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BISHOP’S BAY DUELS EARLY, WINS HEAD-BOB PHOTO IN GRADE III, $400,000 ACK ACK

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026) – Bishop’s Bay dueled early with longshot Macho Music and then desperately held on to turn back a late charge from Coal Battle to narrowly win Saturday’s 34th renewal of the $399,000 Ack Ack (Grade III) at Churchill Downs by a head.

Bishop’s Bay, a 6-year-old son of Uncle Mo, ran one mile on a fast track in 1:34.51. Tyler Gaffalione rode the winner for trainer Brad Cox and owner Talal al Shuraym’s KAS Stables.

“We’re really proud of that effort today,” Cox said. “He had to dig down and really fight. He’s a very talented horse and he showed every bit of that today getting the job done.”

Breaking from post No. 4 in the one-turn mile, Bishop’s Bay came away from gate alertly and withstood early pressure from 54-1 outsider Macho Music as they clipped off solid early fractions of :22.92 and :45.51. Bishop’s Bay put away Macho Music leaving the turn in 1:09.82 and spurted clear to a two-length lead. Four-time stakes winner Coal Battle, who raced in fifth down the backstretch, picked it up at the top of the stretch with a sustained wide rally as three-time stakes winner Owen Almighty tried to close the gap along the inside. Bishop’s Bay, who made all the running early, battled on gamely but was clearly needing the finish line to arrive as soon as possible and prevailed in a tight head-bob photo finish with Coal Battle for the gutsy win.

“He ran such a big race and we’re very proud of him,” said Coal Battle’s trainer Lonnie Briley. “He had his nose down right before the wire and just after. He ran his heart out.”

The first prize was $242,280 and hiked Bishop’s Bay’s bankroll to $2,875,080 with a record of 11-5-0 from 18 starts. It was his seventh career stakes win. Previously, he won last year’s $145,000 American Pharoah, $175,000 Westchester (GIII), $150,000 Salvator Mile (GIII), $175,000 Forty Niner (GIII) and $500,000 Cigar Mile (GII). Prior to the Ack Ack, Bishop’s Bay won the $150,000 Philip H. Iselin (GIII) on Aug. 15 at Monmouth Park.

“I didn’t plan on being in front, but he broke so alertly that I just had to try and get along with him from there,” said Gaffalione, who won his fifth race of the day. “He had a lot of challengers come up to him but fought back each one. It just showed how classy he is.”

Bishop’s Bay paid $7.68, $4.48 and $2.40 as the 5-2 third betting choice. Coal Battle, ridden by Juan Vargas, paid $4.44 and $2.94. Owen Almighty, under Francisco Arrieta, was another length back in third at 2-1 paid $2.64 to show.

East Avenue, 2-1 favorite Nu What’s New, Prince of Power and Macho Music completed the order of finish. Arrowthegreat was scratched.

Bishop’s Bay, out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Catch My Drift, was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm LLC.

Ten of the last 13 Ack Ack winners – Pants On Fire (2013), Tapiture (2015), Tom’s Ready (2016), Awesome Slew (2017), Seeking the Soul (2018), Mr. Money (2020), Senor Buscador (2022), Zozos (2023), Three Technique (2024) and Tumbarumba (2025) – used the race as a springboard to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI), which will be held this year at Keeneland around two turns on Saturday, Oct. 31.

The race is named in honor of Cain Hoy Stable’s 1971 Horse of the Year Ack Ack, who is enshrined in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. In his only Churchill Downs appearance, Ack Ack won the 1969 Derby Trial in 1:34.40 which was a track record for one mile that has since been eclipsed.

ACK ACK QUOTES

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey, Bishops Bay, winner: “I didn’t plan on being in front, but he broke so alertly that I just had to try and get along with him from there. He had a lot of challengers come up to him but fought back each one. It just showed how classy he is.”

Brad Cox, trainer, Bishops Bay, winner: “We’re really proud of that effort today. He had to dig down and really fight. He’s a very talented horse and he showed every bit of that today getting the job done.”

Lonnie Briley, trainer, Coal Battle, runner-up: “He ran such a big race and we’re very proud of him. He had his nose down right before the wire and just after. He ran his heart out.”

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PLUTARCH RETURNS IN STYLE WITH 6 ½-LENGTH BOURBON FLIGHT ROMP

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026) – In his first start since winning the Grade III Robert B. Lewis 231 days ago, Plutarch returned in style with a powerful 6 ½-length win over Grade II Amsterdam winner Local Knowledge in Saturday’s sixth running of the $300,000 Bourbon Flight for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Francisco Arrieta, Plutarch covered 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:41.79.

Plutarch relaxed in fifth in the field of six down the backstretch as Infiltrate set a measured early pace of :23.83 and :48.00. Around the final turn, Plutarch began to cut into the margin with a quick turn of foot, splitting between Blackout Time and Local Knowledge. As Stimulate took the lead from the tiring Infiltrate leaving the turn in 1:12.19, Plutarch ranged up on his outside. Stimulate attempted to keep pace with Plutarch but the winner displayed a powerful kick in deep stretch and drew clear with a furlong to the finish for the comfortable win.

“I just let him relax and get into a good rhythm,” Arrieta said. “Around the turn I had a lot of horse left and he was very impressive down the lane.”

The victory was worth $183,450 for owners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith and increased Plutarch’s earnings to $375,450 with a record of 3-2-2 in seven starts.

“We always knew he was a talented horse and had to be pretty patient with him,” said Baffert, who won his fifth stakes event during Churchill Downs’ boutique 14-day September Meet. “We had him ready to go this summer at Ellis (for the Ellis Park Derby) but he scraped his leg on the van ride down there and had to scratch. That was pretty impressive today.”

In addition to the Bourbon Flight, Baffert won the Open Mind with Usha; Locust Grove (GII) with Splendora; Iroquois (GIII) with Salahudin; and Seneca Overnight with Consequent.

Plutarch is a Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief out of the six-time Grade I-winning Curlin mare Stellar Wind and was by Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt.

Plutarch returned $5.38, $3.12 and $2.36 as the 8-5 betting choice. Local Knowledge, under Jaime Torres at odds of 2-1, returned $3.26 and $2.58. Stimulate, with Luis Saez up, was another 1 ¼ lengths back in third and paid $3.18 to show at 5-2.

It was another 2 ½ lengths back to Blackout Time, who was followed in order by Infiltrate and Steel.

BOURBON FLIGHT QUOTES

Francisco Arrieta, jockey, Plutarch, winner: “I just let him relax and get into a good rhythm. Around the turn I had a lot of horse left and he was very impressive down the lane.”

Bob Baffert, trainer, Plutarch, winner: “We always knew he was a talented horse and had to be pretty patient with him. We had him ready to go this summer at Ellis (for the Ellis Park Derby) but he scraped his leg on the van ride down there and had to scratch. That was pretty impressive today.”

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MANDATORY PAYOUT OF $188,256 CARRYOVER IN DERBY CITY 6 JACKPOT POOL

ON SUNDAY’S CLOSING DAY CARD AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026) – Bettors have a $188,256 carryover in the Derby City 6 to chase Sunday at Churchill Downs for the 10-race closing day program.

There is a mandatory payout in Sunday’s 20-cent Derby City 6, which covers Races 5-10 starting at approximately 2:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) because it’s closing day of the 14-day September Meet. Churchill Downs’ gates will open at 11:30 a.m. The first of 10 races is 12:45 p.m. and the finale is scheduled for 5:25 p.m.

All monies on Sunday will be distributed to ticket holders with the most winners in the six-race series.

Takeout on the Derby City 6 is just 15% – one of the lowest multi-race wager takeout rates in American racing – and only costs 20 cents per combination.

Sunday’s closing day sequence features 58 entered horses in the body of the races for an average of 9.7 entries per race:

Race 5 (2:45 p.m.): Clm 30000n2L, 3&up, 7 F (eight entries)
Race 6 (3:18 p.m.): Mdn 120k, 3&up, 1 1/8 M (eight entries)
Race 7 (3:50 p.m.): Mdn 120k, 2yo f, 7 ½ F (nine entries)
Race 8 (4:22 p.m.): Alw 127000n1x, f&m, 5 ½ F (T) (15 entries, 12 to run)
Race 9 (4:54 p.m.): Alw 50000s, 3&up, 1 1/16 M (10 entries)
Race 10 (5:25 p.m.): OC 80000n2x, 3&up, 1 3/8 M (T) (11 entries)
Past performances are available at www.Brisnet.com. Fans can wager on the Derby City 6 on track at Churchill Downs; www.TwinSpires.com, the track’s official online wagering platform; other online wagering outlets; and select satellite betting centers throughout North America.

Along with the Derby City 6 Jackpot, Sunday will have mandatory payouts in all Pick 5s and the Super Hi-5 in Race 10.