A return to Churchill Downs brought a return to form for Mr. Money and a 1 1/4-length victory over Bourbon Calling in the $100,000 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) Sept. 26.
Mr. Money was foaled at Hidden Brook Farm while Bourbon Resolution is among the 11 blacktype runners in 2020 to emerge from the Hidden Brook Florida training center.
A winner of four grade 3s last year, Mr. Money had been running below expectations since a runner-up finish in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing last September. He ended 2019 with a seventh in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park and then was unplaced in four starts this year. Among those defeats was a 10th in the Aug. 28 Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2).
Back at his home base Saturday, Mr. Money finally ran like his old self. Given a stalking journey under Gabe Saez, he shot through along the narrow opening along the rail down the stretch to prevail.
He raced a mile on a fast track in 1:34.85, set up by hot splits of :22.61, :44.85, and 1:09.11. He paid $14.80 for $2 win wager.
“We sat a perfect trip,” Saez said. “This horse hasn’t had things go his way this year and showed us the real Mr. Money today.”
Bourbon Calling rallied to grab second, a nose in front of show finisher Thirstforlife.
The Ack Ack field was bunched at the finish. Just 3 1/2 lengths separated the winner and beaten favorite Warrior’s Charge, the early pacesetter and eighth-place finisher.
The winner’s share was $57,660 for owners Spendthrift Farm and Chester Thomas’ Allied Racing Stable. It elevated Mr. Money’s bankroll to $1,360,430 from a record of 6-3-0 in 17 starts.
It was his fourth win in six starts at Churchill, where the 4-year-old son of Goldencents won a maiden race at 2 and the Pat Day Mile Stakes presented by LG and E and KU (G3) and Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at 3.
“He loves this track and got to run out of his own stall,” trainer Bret Calhoun said.
A start in the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland could be next. Five of the past seven Ack Ack winners—Pants On Fire (2013), Tapiture (2015), Tom’s Ready (2016), Awesome Slew (2017), and Seeking the Soul (2018)— used the race as a springboard to run later in the fall in the Dirt Mile. Though none of the five won, Awesome Slew ran third and Seeking the Soul was second.
“Fingers crossed, that (win) will take us to the Breeders’ Cup,” Thomas said. “We are so thrilled for this horse, Bret, his entire team, and Gabe.”
Bred in Kentucky by Spruce Lane Farm, Mr. Money was a $130,000 purchase by Josh Stevens Bloodstock from Woods Edge Farm’s consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The bay colt is out of the winning Tiznow mare Plenty O’Toole, whose dam is a half sister to Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) winner Well Armed, also by Tiznow.
Plenty O’Toole, the dam of two winners from three foals to race, has a yearling filly by Speightstown and foaled a Ghostzapper colt this year.
-edited from www.bloodhorse.com
