How to bet With, and Against, Zozos in the 2023 Ack Ack Stakes

A total of seven runners will go postward in the $400,000 Ack Ack S. (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The winner of the event will receive an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. 

Zozos – With

• $8 trifecta key 5 with 2,3,6 ($48)

Zozos – Against

• $1 trifecta 2,3,6 with 2,3,5,6 with all ($45)

The Brad Cox-trained #5 Zozos (6-5) is the one to beat. By Munnings, the dark bay colt has come out on top in six of his 10 career tries to date, which includes a sharp score in the Knicks Go S. on the oval in May. The four-year-old is 2-for-2 at the one-mile distance in his career, and he also has the gate presence to take the lead from the opening bell against this particular cast. He will be very tough to knock off with his best showing with Florent Geroux retaining the mount. 

Recent John A. Nerud S. (G2) star #3 Three Technique (3-1) has won a pair of races in succession and has a lot of good local experience with an 8-2-2-2 local line for trainer Jason Cook. Third in the Knicks Go S. three races prior, the in-form son of Mr. Speaker comes into the race while fresh and smoked a five-furlong bullet in his latest morning drill, too. This Kentucky-bred six-year-old will save ground near midpack behind a moderate early tempo on Saturday with Rafael Bejarano in the stirrups. 

The Greg Foley-trained #2 O Besos (7-2) had a nice prep for this one when a closing second at Ellis Park in his seasonal debut and stretches out on this occasion. The Orb five-year-old was a sharp winner the last time that he raced on the oval, and the one-mile trip seems to be well within his scope, as well. The chestnut will not be very far back early on in a race without an abundance of pace with Tyler Gaffalione inheriting the ride. 

Brian Lynch’s #6 Skyro (10-1) is a talented gelding who was a powerful allowance winner in his most recent outing on the surface. The son of Verrazano is unraced since January, but he has run well off of layoffs in the past, and the Kentucky-bred has trained in good fashion leading up to the tilt, as well. James Graham will take the reins.