Updated September 24: Chunk of Gold is now the 2 to 1 morning line favorite for the Grade 2 Lukas Classic on Saturday, September 26, and enters the race just $48,489 short of $1 million in career earnings. Churchill Downs also reports that McAfee and Original Sin are scheduled to scratch for the Goodwood Cup at Santa Anita, which would reduce the Lukas Classic to five starters.
Churchill Downs will close its September meet with a strong older horse test as Chunk of Gold, Banishing, Tiztastic, Dragoon Guard and This Is Uscar headline the Lukas Classic picture.
The $500,000 race is scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on dirt and will go as Race 10 on an 11 race program. First post for the card is 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with the Lukas Classic scheduled for 5:29 p.m.
Banishing brings proven class
Banishing enters as the most accomplished runner in the field. The six year old son of Ghostzapper has earned more than $3.2 million and owns 11 victories from 32 starts. Earlier this year he won the Grade 2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan, adding an international success to an already deep dirt resume.
His latest start came in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, where he finished second. That performance keeps him firmly among the leading older dirt runners heading into the final stretch of the 2026 season.
Seven older horses meet at Churchill
The Lukas Classic gives Banishing another major test before the autumn championship picture fully takes shape. Churchill Downs confirmed a seven horse field for the race, which shares Saturday billing with the Grade 3 Ack Ack and the $300,000 Bourbon Flight.
The race also adds another important older horse event to a weekend already packed with major racing around the country. Belmont Park hosts the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, Flower Bowl, Vosburgh and Gallant Bloom on the same afternoon.
A meaningful closing weekend target
The Lukas Classic has become an important late season dirt race at Churchill Downs. Its position on the calendar gives established older horses another opportunity to strengthen their form before the major championship races later in the fall.
For Banishing, Saturday offers a chance to turn his Charles Town runner up finish into another graded stakes victory. His combination of recent form, international success and experience makes him the central figure in the race, but a seven horse field leaves little room for mistakes.
OTB Bet will continue following the closing weekend stakes action and will update the racing picture when official results are confirmed.
Related OTB Bet coverage
Read more from Churchill Downs in our Consequent Seneca Stakes recap and Conceit Dogwood Stakes recap. For Saturday coverage from New York, see our Joe Hirsch Turf Classic preview.
Source: Churchill Downs official stakes advance, published September 19, 2026.
