In The Money Telegraph
Sunday, September 27, 2026 · By ITM Staff
Gaffalione’s Six-Win Saturday Powers Churchill’s Closing Saturday
Churchill Downs closed its September meet on Saturday, and it belonged to Tyler Gaffalione. The jockey reeled off six winners on the card — including two graded stakes — to become just the 13th rider to win six in a day at the track. He nearly made it seven: aboard his last mount, Hereforagoodtime, he was run down late by Snipsnippitysnip, leaving him a win shy of the Churchill record shared by Pat Day and Julien Leparoux.
The centerpiece of his day was the $498,000 Lukas Classic (G2), honoring the late Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Gaffalione settled Brad Cox’s Dragoon Guard off the pace, collared favorite Chunk of Gold on the far turn, and drew off to a 3¼-length win — the second graded score of the day for the Gaffalione-Cox team after the Ack Ack (G3) with Bishops Bay. Chunk of Gold’s bid to become a millionaire came up short, and Banishing — another ITM follow re-routed from the Jockey Club Gold Cup — faded badly late. Both of the horses many were watching simply didn’t fire.
Earlier, Bob Baffert’s Plutarch announced himself in the $300,000 Bourbon Flight, rolling to a 6½-length romp over Local Knowledge in his first start since winning the Robert B. Lewis in February. It was a statement return from a three-year-old worth keeping an eye on this fall.
Laurel Beats the Rain
The nor’easter that wiped out Belmont clipped Maryland too, leaving Laurel’s turf course yielding and rain-soaked all day — but the card went on, and its two juvenile stakes both went to the stewards. In the $125,000 Laurel Futurity, Graham Motion’s Coast Highway stayed unbeaten after a lengthy inquiry and multiple objections left his number standing. The race turned eventful in the lane, where Howard’s Hope clipped heels and fell, unseating rider Jose Lezcano.
The $125,000 Selima produced a feel-good result: Hidden Overture, trained by Brittany Russell, improved to two-for-two and gave 45-year-old jockey Julian Pimentel his first stakes win since 2021 — a result that also stood up to an objection. A wet day, in the end, that rewarded the horses who handled it.
Today’s Racing
Santa Anita. The fall meet is up and running out West, and it’s stacked with Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In’’ races over its opening weekends. Dean Keppler makes Cortina d’Amprezzo his best bet in Race 3. Keppler’s card →
Laurel Park. A conventional Sunday follows Saturday’s soaker. Will Humphrey has top picks and trip notes across the card. Humphrey’s tips & trips →
The Tour Finale Is Friday
One last reminder as the regular season winds down: the final ITM Horseplayers Tour feeder runs this Friday, October 2 — Keeneland’s Fall opening day — the last chance to grab one of the 72 playoff berths. The playoffs then run October 9, 16, and 23, ending with a $10,000 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge seat for the winner. It’s $20 to play at HorsePlayers.com, with proceeds to Breeders’ Cup Charities.
ITM Plus
Championship Season Is Here
Belmont’s washed-out stakes reload Thursday, the Tour finale and Keeneland’s opening land Friday, and the Breeders’ Cup is now weeks away. ITM Plus members get daily written selections, the members’ bet share, exclusive shows, and full coverage all the way to Keeneland.
More all week at inthemoneypodcast.com and on the ITM YouTube channel, with premium coverage on ITM Plus.
