Churchill Downs Stakes Recaps and Quotes: Kentucky Derby Winner Mystik Dan Does It Again at Churchill Downs; Splits Horses to Edge Disarm With Inside Run in Grade II, $500,000 Lukas Classic

Sep 27, 2025

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan returned to the Churchill Downs winner’s circle for the fourth time but this time with substitute rider Francisco Arrieta in the saddle. The 4-year-old colt, who captured the historic 150th “Run for the Roses” one year ago, had to wait for room at the top of the stretch before hit split horses and powered home to run down Disarm and win Saturday’s 12th running of the $500,000 Lukas Classic (Grade II) for 3-year-olds and up at Churchill Downs by three-quarters of a length.

Mystik Dan stopped the teletimer in 1:49.25 for 1 1/8 miles over a “fast” track. Arrieta, who subbed for the injury Brian Hernandez Jr., rode the winner for trainer Kenny McPeek and owners Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing LLC (Brent Gasaway), Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm LLC (Scott Hamby). Hernandez, who had ridden Mystik Dan in all but two of his previous starts, returned home Thursday from University of Louisville Hospital Trauma Center to begin his recovery after sustaining seven broken ribs, a punctured lung and a lacerated liver in a mishap in last Sunday’s third race.

Willy D’s, the recent $1 million Charles Town Classic (GII) runner-up, led the field of seven older horses through splits of :23.45, :47.46 and 1:11.67 as R.A. “Cowboy” Jones runner-up Prince of Power chased in second with Charles Town Classic winner Banishing in the clear on the outside in third. Mystik Dan raced in a tracking position along the inside in fourth and Disarm, who had placed in six graded stakes including a win in the $400,000 Matt Winn (GIII) at Ellis Park as a 3-year-old, was another length back in fifth down the backstretch.

Leaving the far turn, Mystik Dan was stuck behind a tiring Willy D’s and Prince of Power. At the head of the stretch, he tipped to the outside of Prince of Power and squeezed through a narrow opening between Prince of Power and Banishing. Arrieta then guided Mystik Dan to his familiar position along the inside rail to engage the leader Disarm, who spurted clear at the three-sixteenths pole after a four-wide rally.

Mystik Dan shook loose at the sixteenth pole with his characteristic inside run and collected his fourth victory in six starts around the historic Churchill Downs oval.

“First and foremost, I want to send my well wishes to Brian,” Arrieta said. “I had so much horse in the stretch. I just had to stay patient and wait for the spot to open. When I saw an opening on the inside I was able to send him down there and he just powered through. He’s such a classy horse and I’m very thankful to Kenny and the owners for letting me ride him.”

Overall, Mystik Dan has won five of 16 starts with three seconds and one third. The $303,040 first prize boosted his career earnings to $4,819,160.

The Lukas Classic was Mystik Dan’s fourth stakes win. In addition to the Kentucky Derby, he won the $800,000 Southwest (GIII) as a 3-year-old. Earlier this year, Mystik Dan won the $250,000 Blame (GIII) at Churchill Downs with an inside run.

In Mystik Dan’s previous start, he finished fourth in the $1 million Arlington Million (GI) in his first try over grass.

“This horse just exudes class,” McPeek said. “He acts like an old professional. A lot of credit goes to the Churchill team with (assistant trainer) Greg Geier and his exercise rider (former jockey) Robby Albarado. They got him into this race in great shape. All of us are thinking about Brian today and wish him the best in his recovery. This race was a great prep to likely the Breeders’ Cup (Dirt) Mile (GI). I’m sure we’ll entertain both that and the Classic in the coming days with the owners. We’re just going to enjoy this one and get him ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

The $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) will be held this year at Del Mar around two turns on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Mystik Dan, the 3-2 favorite, returned $5.14, $3.26 and $2.46. Disarm, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., paid $5.86 and $3.28 as the 6-1 fourth betting choice. It was another 3 ¾ lengths back to Banishing in third under Tyler Gaffalione who paid $2.78 to show at 5-2.

Hit Show, the $12 million Dubai World Cup (GI) winner, was fourth and was followed by Prince of Power, Rattle N Roll and Willy D’s.

Mystik Dan is a bay son of Goldencents out of the Colonel John mare Ma’am and was bred in Kentucky by his the Gasaways and 4 G Racing LLC.

The Lukas Classic honors the iconic Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who passed away in late June at the age of 89. Lukas was a four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks and conditioner of 26 Eclipse Award-winning champions.

His widow, Laurie Lukas, was on hand to present the winning trophy along with numerous friends and family.

LUKAS CLASSIC QUOTES

Francisco Arrieta, jockey, Mystik Dan, winner: “First and foremost, I want to send my well wishes to Brian (Hernandez Jr.). I had so much horse in the stretch. I just had to stay patient and wait for the spot to open. When I saw an opening on the inside I was able to send him down there and he just powered through. He’s such a classy horse and I’m very thankful to Kenny (McPeek) and the owners for letting me ride him.”

Kenny McPeek, trainer, Mystik Dan, winner: “This horse just exudes class. He acts like an old professional. A lot of credit goes to the Churchill team with Greg Geier and his exercise rider Robby Albarado. They got him into this race in great shape. All of us are thinking about Brian (Hernandez Jr.) today and wish him the best in his recovery. This race was a great prep to likely the Breeders’ Cup (Dirt) Mile (GI). I’m sure we’ll entertain both that and the Classic in the coming days with the owners. We’re just going to enjoy this one and get him ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Irad Ortiz Jr., trainer, Disarm, runner-up: “He made a good run around the far turn and was doing it easily. He was battling hard in the stretch but couldn’t hold off the winner.”

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey, Banishing, third: “He made a good run at them and tried hard.”

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TUMBARUMBA UPSETS MOST WANTED IN GRADE III, $335,000 ACK ACK

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025) – Louisiana-bred Tumbarumba pressured odds-on 1-4 favorite Most Wanted throughout the race before putting away that rival inside the final furlong to spring the upset and win Saturday’s 33rd renewal of the $335,000 Ack Ack (Grade III) at Churchill Downs by three quarters of a length.

Tumbarumba, a 5-year-old gelded son of Oscar Performance, ran one mile on a “fast” track in 1:35.44. Tyler Gaffalione rode the winner for trainer Brian Lynch and owner Wathnan Racing of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar.

A start in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile is next.

Breaking from post No. 4 in the one-turn mile, Tumbarumba, the runner-up in last year’s Ack Ack, did not let heavy favorite Most Wanted get away with an unpressured early lead. The Brad Cox-trained Most Wanted, last year’s $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (GIII) winner, broke from the rail and set quick early splits of :22.68, :45.26 and 1:09.32 as Tumbarumba sat just off his right hip. The two match strides through upper stretch before Tumbarumba poked his nose in front from the outside and inched clear late.

“All the credit goes to this horse and Brian and his team,” Gaffalione said. “He’s such a fun horse to ride who tries so hard every time. He deserved to win this race.”

The first prize was $182,280 and hiked Tumbarumba’s bankroll to $960,020 with a record of 7-7-4 from 24 starts. It was his fourth career stakes win and second in a row. Previously, he won the $200,000 R.A. “Cowboys” Jones over a mile at Ellis Park on Aug. 10. At age 3, he prevailed in the $250,000 Ellis Park Derby and later would win last year’s $150,000 Fred Hooper (GIII) at Gulfstream Park as a 4-year-old.

Tumbarumba paid $16.78, $3.98 and $2.60 as the 7-1 third betting choice. Most Wanted, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., paid $2.32 and $2.10. Indispensable, under Luis Saez, was another 1 ½ lengths back in third at 8-1 paid $3.04 to show.

Who Dey was fourth and was followed by last year’s Ack Ack winner Three Technique, 7-1 second choice Will Take It and Surly Furious. This Is Uscar was scratched.

Tumbarumba, out of the Street Sense mare Naïve Enough, was bred by Coteau Grove Farms LLC.

“Tyler and this horse get along so well,” Lynch said. “He rode a great race today and it’s back to the Breeders’ Cup again this year. He ran well there last year (fourth) but I think this year he’s a more mature horse and can show different dynamics within the race.”

Nine of the last 12 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) and Three Technique (2024) – used the race as a springboard to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI), which will be held this year at Del Mar around two turns on Saturday, Nov. 1.

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, Tumbarumba, winner: “All the credit goes to this horse and Brian (Lynch) and his team. He’s such a fun horse to ride who tries so hard every time. He deserved to win this race.”

Brian Lynch, trainer, Tumbarumba, winner: “Tyler (Gaffalione) and this horse get along so well. He rode a great race today and it’s back to the Breeders’ Cup again this year. He ran well there last year but I think this year he’s a more mature horse and can show different dynamics within the race.”

Brad Cox, trainer, Most Wanted, runner-up: “We were just second best today.”