Churchill Downs Update and Stakes Advances: Kentucky Derby Winner Mystik Dan, Dubai World Cup Winner Hit Show Set to Clash in Next Saturday's Grade II, $500,000 Lukas Classic

Sep 20, 2025

Kentucky Derby 150 hero Mystik Dan will square off against Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show in next Saturday’s 12th running of the $500,000 Lukas Classic (Grade II), the marquee event of the Churchill Downs September Meet.

The 1 1/8-mile Lukas Classic is the featured 10th race on Saturday’s 11-race program. First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Lukas Classic field scheduled to go to post at 5:29 p.m.

Also on the Saturday card is the 33rd running of the $400,000 Ack Ack (GIII) in Race 8.

Mystik Dan, campaigned by 4 G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hemby III and Valley View Farm, has tackled a wide range of challenges during his 4-year-old campaign. After a disappointing run in the Pegasus World Cup (GI), the Kenny McPeek trainee rebounded with a narrow second to Saudi Crown in Oaklawn’s Lake Ouachita Stakes and a 1 ¼-length victory in the Blame Stakes (GIII) at Churchill Downs. His summer campaign included a fourth-place finish in the Stephen Foster (GI) and a try on turf in the Arlington Million (GI) at Colonial Downs, where he finished fourth, beaten 3 ½ lengths. Regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr., who guided Mystik Dan to Derby glory nearly 17 months ago, retains the mount from post No. 5.

Along with Mystik Dan, McPeek also entered last year’s Clark Stakes (GII) winner Rattle N Roll. Owned in partnership by Sharaf Mohamad Alhariri and Lucky Seven Stable, Rattle N Roll was campaigned globally following the Clark, winning the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (GIII) prior to a fifth-place finish in the Saudi Cup (GI) and an eighth in the Dubai World Cup (GI). Julien Leparoux has the call from post 3.

Wathnan Racing’s Hit Show returns to defend his Lukas Classic crown for trainer Brad Cox. After last year’s victory, the son of Candy Ride went on to add wins in the Fayette (GII) and Louisiana Stakes (GIII) prior to a Grade I score in the Dubai World Cup. After returning to North America, Hit Show finished fifth in the Stephen Foster which was followed by a repeat score in the West Virginia Governor’s Cup (Listed) at Mountaineer. Florent Geroux will ride from post 2.

Another accomplished contender is Lawrence P. Roman and David Jacobson’s Banishing. The versatile 5-year-old gelding enters the Lukas Classic off a sharp 2 ¼-length win in the Charles Town Classic (GII). His resumé includes victories at six different distances from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount in the Lukas Classic from post 7.

The lineup for the Lukas Classic from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Willy D’s (Luis Saez, Mike Maker)
Hit Show (Geroux, Cox)
Rattle N Roll (Leparoux, McPeek)
Prince of Power (Manny Esquivel, Jesus Esquivel)
Mystik Dan (Hernandez, McPeek)
Disarm (Irad Ortiz Jr., Steve Asmussen)
Banishing (Gaffalione, Jacobson)
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, will be on hand to present the trophy to the victor.

Saturday also is Thoroughbred Aftercare Day at Churchill Downs. Several leading aftercare organizations will be on-site to showcase their work in re-training and re-homing retired racehorses.

For more information about Lukas Classic Day and the remainder of the Churchill Downs September Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

MOST WANTED TOPS ULTRA-COMPETITIVE CAST OF MILERS IN GRADE III, $400,000 ACK ACK – Gary and Mary West’s five-time winner Most Wanted tops a competitive lineup of eight milers entered in next Saturday’s $400,000 Ack Ack (Grade III), one of two graded stakes on the Churchill Downs card.

The Ack Ack, run at a one-turn mile, is the eighth race on an 11-race program that also features the $500,000 Lukas Classic (GII). First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Ack Ack scheduled for 4:26 p.m.

Most Wanted will meet several proven rivals in the Ack Ack, including Hanshin (Listed) winner Will Take It, recent R.A. Cowboy Jones winner Tumbarumba and defending Ack Ack champion Three Technique.

Trained by Brad Cox, Most Wanted has finished first or second in eight of nine starts while earning $910,093. As a 3-year-old, he won the Oklahoma Derby (GIII) and Ellis Park Derby (Listed) and was runner-up in the Clark (GII). This year, the 4-year-old son of Candy Ride (ARG) captured an allowance at Churchill Downs and finished second in both the Alysheba (GII) and Challenger (GIII). Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount from the rail.

Will Take It, owned by Willis Horton Racing and Whisper Hill Farm, has not raced since scoring a neck victory over Banishing in the Hanshin Stakes on closing day of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet. The 4-year-old Tapit colt has logged eight local works for his return and will break from post No. 2 with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons.

Wathnan Racing’s Tumbarumba, second in last year’s Ack Ack before a fourth-place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI), enters Saturday’s race following a victory in the R.A. Cowboy Jones at Ellis Park. Trained by Brian Lynch, the 5-year-old Louisiana-bred will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 5.

Three Technique, campaigned by Eric Gridley, David Miller, Howard Preuss and John Werner, is set for his 45th career start and fourth Ack Ack appearance. Trained by Jason Cook, he won last year’s race by 1 ½ lengths before finishing 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He also was third in the 2022-23 editions of the Ack Ack. Florent Geroux rides from post 7.

The field for the Ack Ack Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Most Wanted (Ortiz, Cox)
Will Take It (Hernandez, Stewart)
Surly Furious (Ben Curtis, Glenn Wismer)
This Is Uscar (Edgar Morales, Jordan Blair)
Tumbarumba (Gaffalione, Lynch)
Indispensable (Luis Saez, John Sadler)
Three Technique (Geroux, Cook)
Who Dey (Luan Machado, Tommy Drury Jr.)
DOWN THE STRETCH – Saturday’s 11-race card got underway at 12:45 p.m. and featured a $76,380 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot in Race 6. … Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen needs 18 wins to reach 11,000-career victories. He had seven horses entered across four tracks on Saturday. … Sunday is Family Adventure Day: Purple Takeover with more than 15 kid-friendly activities plus a meet-and-greet with professional soccer teams Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville. For more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com.