Churchill Downs winds down its short September meet over the upcoming weekend, with stakes action highlighted by the Ack Ack Stakes on Saturday. The Grade 3 one-turn mile at Churchill is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” qualifying race for the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, giving the winner a fees-paid automatic berth in the starting gate of the two-turn Dirt Mile on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park.

1. Seize the Night (12-1 morning-line odds): Formerly trained by D. Wayne Lukas, this gelding is the first stakes starter for young trainer and Lukas protégé Jade Cunningham. He’s been in career-best form through his last four starts with a record of 2-0-1 (under Lukas’ guidance) and all have been at a mile or longer. Look for Jon Court to be aggressive in vying for the early lead. Can hit the board with his best effort.

JOCKEY: Jon Court TRAINER: S. Jade Cunningham

2. O Besos (7-2): Ran fifth in the 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and has been competitive in seven starts since then, although his only two wins in that span were in allowance optional claiming races. Comes in off a sharp runner-up effort in the 6 ½-furlong Jeff Hall Memorial Stakes at Ellis Park where he lost by a nose and stretching out a bit should be right in his wheelhouse.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione TRAINER: Greg Foley

3. Three Technique (3-1): Carries the best recent form of this bunch as he makes his first start since a breakthrough 3 ¾-length score in the seven-furlong, Grade 2 John A. Nerud Stakes at Belmont Park. That was on July 1, and he ran third, defeated by 4 ¾ lengths, in last year’s Ack Ack after a similar layoff. Still, he’s hit the board in six of eight starts at Churchill and both of his wins here have been at a one-turn mile with Bejarano in the saddle.

JOCKEY: Rafael Bejarano TRAINER: Jason Cook

4. Stage Raider (6-1): After making his first nine starts for Chad Brown, trainer Cherie DeVaux assumed oversight and this horse freaked with a two-length win in the listed R.A. Cowboy Jones Stakes going a mile at Ellis Park Aug. 13 at 19.17-1 odds. He earned an Equibase Speed Figure of 111 in that stakes debut, best in the Ack Ack field, and has some other races from 2021 and 2022 that would put him in the mix if he can repeat the efforts. DeVaux is having a career-best year.

JOCKEY: Brian Hernandez Jr. TRAINER: Cherie DeVaux

Click image to purchase shirt.

5. Zozos (6-5): Since finishing 10^th in the 2022 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, he’s found success at a lower level, winning three of six starts including the listed Knicks Go Stakes at this track and distance back in May. He looks like the main speed in the Ack Ack and if he’s not tested early by Seize the Night, Skyro, and/or Caddo River early, he could win this race gate to wire.

JOCKEY: Florent Geroux TRAINER: Brad Cox

6. Skyro (10-1): Both of this gelding’s dirt wins have come at Churchill Downs – a maiden claiming score in the slop way back in May 2021 and a one-turn mile allowance optional claiming win in July of last year with James Graham aboard. Since then, he’s raced four times on turf or all-weather with one win and one runner-up effort, and his last start came back in January. Brian Lynch has a good win percentage returning horses from a layoff, but this one seems best suited for a minor award.

JOCKEY: James Graham TRAINER: Brian Lynch

7. Caddo River (15-1): A Kentucky Derby prospect back in 2021, he’s done his best running over the past couple of years at the allowance level. Hall of Famer Lukas assumed training duties earlier this year, and since then he won once and finished second in a Grade 3 stakes before going off form in two starts at Churchill during late spring, including finishing 10^th of 11 in the Knicks Go Stakes won by Zozos. Should pressure that rival early on if he breaks well under first-time rider Cannon.

JOCKEY: Declan Cannon TRAINER: D. Wayne Lukas

THE PICK: O Besos

LIVE LONGSHOT: Stage Raider

SUPERFECTA: 2-3-5-4

6 Beginner Betting Tools

1. Start simple with an easy guide for how to bet on horse racing.
2. Not sure what that word means? Horse racing terminology is a language of its own. Allow us translate for you.
3. What the heck is a speed figure? This beginner’s guide to speed figures has everything you need to know.
4. Betting on horse racing can be intimidating. Team ABR put together some Dos and Don’ts for the new fan getting started betting on racing.
5. We all make mistakes when it comes to betting on horse racing, here are eight lessons learned from experience.
6. Figure out how much each bet will cost in advance with our Gambling Calculator, presented by NYRA Bets.