Churchill Downs Closing Day Update: Bishops Bay Targets Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Following Ack Ack Win; $188,256 Jackpot Carryover Force-Out for Today's Closing Day Derby City 6

Sep 27, 2026

KAS Stables’ Bishops Bay is headed to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) following his determined victory in Saturday’s $399,000 Ack Ack (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stables, announced the Breeders’ Cup plans Saturday night on X.

“When we talk about true warriors, horses with a massive heart, the ones who leave everything on the track, who never quit, who keep fighting year after year and who do it with class, we have to talk about Bishops Bay,” Lanz wrote. “Thank you for always giving your all. You make us proud every time you step on the track. … Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile next.”

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.

Bishops Bay earned a 99 Brisnet Speed Rating for his head victory in the Ack Ack over Coal Battle.

Trained by Brad Cox, Bishops Bay has won 11 of 18 starts with earnings of $2,875,080.

Other notable Brisnet Speed Ratings on Saturday’s card were a 105 from Dragoon Guard in the $498,000 Lukas Classic (GII), a 101 from Plutarch in the $300,000 Bourbon Flight and an 87 from Staunch in a 7 ½-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-olds.

GAFFALIONE VAULTS INTO JOCKEY LEAD ENTERING CLOSING DAY- Following a six-win Saturday at Churchill Downs, Tyler Gaffalione vaulted into the lead in the jockey standings entering Sunday’s closing-day card of the September Meet.

Gaffalione, who began Saturday in third place with nine wins, enters Sunday with 15 victories, four more than Jose Ortiz and five ahead of Luis Saez. Gaffalione and Saez each have nine mounts Sunday, while Ortiz is named in eight races.

Three trainers enter closing day tied atop the standings with eight wins. Joe Sharp has eight horses entered across six races, while Brendan Walsh has starters in Races 6, 7 and 9 and Bob Baffert is represented in Race 4. Steve Asmussen, who has six wins, has starters in Races 1, 2 and 4.

Juddmonte and Workman Ranch are tied for leading owner with three wins apiece. Workman Ranch has a starter in Race 5, while Juddmonte will be represented in Race 6.

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

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.