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Bradester, Carve both cutting back for Ack Ack Bradester has been made the 2-1 morning-line favorite in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Ack Ack Handicap at Churchill Downs and trainer Eddie Kenneally was happy to get five-time local champion jockey Corey Lanerie the mount for the first time. "Corey's breezed him once in the morning but this will be his first time riding Bradester in a race," Kenneally said. "We're obviously excited to get Corey; I ride him all the time and have the utmost confidence in him." Bradester is coming off of back-to-back runner-up performances at Monmouth Park in the Monmouth Cup and Salvator Mile, both graded contests. He was beaten 1 1/2 lengths in the Salvator Mile by Itsmyluckyday, who went on to win the Woodward last Saturday at Saratoga. "Bradester is doing well and training great," Kenneally noted. "He shipped down to the Churchill a few of weeks ago and has put in a good work over the track. He has won on the track and has run some other good races at Churchill before." The four-year-old son of Lion Heart recorded a bullet five-furlong move in :59 3/5 on August 29 under the Twin Spires. "We're going from a two-turn race back to a one turn," Kenneally said of the one-mile Ack Ack. "That's the biggest difference for him; it's more of a sprint. It also is a solid field even though there aren't many in there. "We'll see how he breaks and leave the trip to Corey," he added. "Hopefully he runs his race." Churchill Downs-based trainer and Louisville native Brad Cox is looking for his second graded score with Carve in the Ack Ack following victory in the June 28 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap, which marked the first graded win for Cox. "He was my first graded stakes winner," Cox said. "He's been big for our barn. It was a big accomplishment to get that first graded win and it was a nice purse. His last race at Mountaineer was a big effort as well." Carve's last effort, a win in the West Virginia Governor's Stakes at Mountaineer, was his third consecutive victory and second career stakes triumph. The First Samurai four-year-old began his current win streak by taking a one-mile optional claimer at Churchill on June 14 by 3 3/4 lengths. The gelding also ran third in the Oaklawn Handicap earlier this season. "He's training really well," Cox stated. "He breezed a half-mile here at Churchill this past weekend (on August 30) in :49 2/5. He's fit and happy." Carve will shorten back up for the one-mile Ack Ack after going 1 1/16 miles in his victory at Mountaineer and 1 1/8 miles in the Cornhusker. "I think he'll handle the one-turn mile well," Cox said. "He won an allowance race here at that distance before the Cornhusker, so I don't think it will be an issue with him at all." Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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