Hit Show got up late to cap a huge day for Wathnan Racing with a win in the GII Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs Saturday night. The 3-1 shot angled to the rail under the wire the first time and into the first turn while many of his foes opted to angle outside over the sloppy going. Settled in fourth off the pace down the backstretch as Cooke Creek set a moderate pace, the gray began making forward progress approaching the far turn. He rolled up five wide approaching the stretch and reeled in the pacesetter and outbattled that game foe to the wire.
“That was a huge effort,” winning jockey Florent Geroux said. “He had to battle late and really dug in to get his head in front. We were in a great spot early and I got to save a lot of ground. He has a lot of class. I think he's improving a lot this year.”
Winning trainer Brad Cox added, “He ran great. Florent gave him a perfect trip and he was able to save ground in the first turn and come home running. Once he tipped out, he really came with a huge run. We'll talk about next steps with the owners and make a plan. Whether it be the Breeders' Cup or races here locally is still up in the air.”
Wathnan Racing of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, had a monster Saturday, with Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify) winning the GI California Crown Stakes and Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance) and Cagliostro (Upstart) finishing two-three in the GIII Ack Ack Stakes.
Racing in the colors of his breeders, Gary and Mary West, Hit Show won the 2023 GIII Withers Stakes and missed by a nose when second in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes. He won his last start for the Wests in the Aug. 4 GIII West Virginia Governor Stakes last time out.
Pedigree Notes:
Actress, a multiple-graded stakes-winning daughter of Canadian champion Milwaukee Appeal, has a 2-year-old filly by Medaglia d'Oro named Blind Faith who was third for the Wests and Cox in her debut at Horseshoe Indianapolis Sept. 17. With no reported foals in 2023 and 2024, the mare was bred to Curlin this year.
Saturday, Churchill Downs
LUKAS CLASSIC S.-GII, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 9-28, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:50.44, sy.
1–HIT SHOW, 123, c, 4, by Candy Ride (Arg)
1st Dam: Actress (MGSW, $545,150), by Tapit
2nd Dam: Milwaukee Appeal, by Milwaukee Brew
3rd Dam: Appealing Forum, by Open Forum
O-Wathnan Racing; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY);
T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $300,560. Lifetime Record:
13-6-1-0, $1,079,515. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Cooke Creek, 121, g, 5, Uncle Mo–Genre, by Bernardini.
O-Flying P Stable; B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY); T-Michael J.
Maker. $97,600.
3–Rattle N Roll, 121, h, 5, Connect–Jazz Tune, by Johannesburg.
($55,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $210,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Lucky
Seven Stable (Mackin); B-St. Simon Place (KY); T-Kenneth G.
McPeek. $48,800.
Margins: NK, 3HF, NK. Odds: 3.28, 4.29, 4.57.
Also Ran: Disarm, Warrior Johny, Bolzy, Stilleto Boy, Happy American. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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