After winning a graded stakes for the first time since 2011 in his previous start, Pants On Fire will try for two straight when he starts in the $100,000 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) Sept. 7 at Churchill Downs.
At 121 pounds, Pants On Fire is the highweight in the field of eight 3-year-olds and older set to go the one-turn mile on the Churchill dirt Saturday night.
George and Lori Hall's Pants On Fire extended his lead through the stretch of the Monmouth Cup Stakes (gr. II) July 28 at Monmouth Park to win that race by 1 3/4 lengths and secure his first graded-stakes since winning the 2011 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Trained by Kelly Breen, Pants On Fire has registered seven wins from 21 starts, including two other stakes victories, and has earned $1,131,060.
The field includes Winchell Thoroughbreds and WinStar Farm's Brethren , who enters off a stakes win at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino; and James Tafel's upset Iowa Derby (gr. III) winner Looking Cool , who will face older horses for the first time.
$100,000 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III, race 9, approximate post time 10:11 p.m. EDT) 3YO&Up, 1 mile (Dirt)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Brethren (KY), R. Napravnik, 117, S. Asmussen
2. Good Morning Diva (KY), C. Lanerie, 115, R. Hiles
3. Pants On Fire (KY), P. Lopez, 121, K. Breen
4. Right to Vote (KY), S. Bridgmohan, 116, R. Moquett
5. Taptowne (KY), C. Borel, 118, T. Glyshaw
6. Looking Cool (KY), B. Hernandez Jr., 115, C. Nafzger
7. Moe Man (KY), L. Goncalves, 114, I. Wilkes
8. Sabercat (KY), R. Santana Jr., 115, S. Asmussen