Thursday was an off day for the playoffs-contending Chicago Cubs, who begin a three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park Friday evening.Fresh off an 8-4 victory on Wednesday, Sept. 16, in which he finished three-for-four and just a single shy of hitting for the cycle, third-baseman Alex Bregman and a gaggle of his teammates made their way from the Queen City to Louisville–about a 100-mile trip along Interstate 71–where Bregman Family Racing was set to be represented by Act of Parliament (Quality Road) in the nightcap on the 'Downs After Dark' program at Churchill.A $750,000 purchase out of the 2025 2-year-old sales, the dark bay colt was most recently third going a two-turn mile over the main track in maiden allowance company at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Aug. 26 and was entered for the Fasig-Tipton Digital August Sale thereafter. He was purchased by Tessa Walden for $65,000.The vibes were positive in the saddling enclosure, if for no other reason than Bregman's teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong–in the midst of a spectacular season that will almost certainly end with Most Valuable Player honors for the National League–was videoed by Bregman and posted to Instagram, giving Act of Parliament a 'pep talk' and a pat on the nose. Pete Crow-Armstrong gave Alex Bregman's horse a pep talk before the race.The horse won. Coincidence? (: @ABREG_1 IG story) pic.twitter.com/Xadrj4hani— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) September 18, 2026 A well-backed 3-1 second choice dipping down in class to take on $20,000 maidens, Act of Parliament was one of the last away after getting pinched back at the break, but looped his rivals on the turn and finished well to graduate by 3/4 of a length (video). Axel Concepcion had the winning ride for trainer Will Walden.Judging by the celebrations that followed, one might have surmised that the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks had been moved forward to mid-September and had been re-routed to the 'Downs After Dark' program.In no particular order, the post-race festivities included: Cubs relief pitcher Ryan Rolison decked out in a horse costume in honor of the occasion; As shared on third-base coach Quintin Berry's IG, Rolison in the winner's circle swinging the tail of his costume around while cheering home a horse; Ryan Rolison dressed up in support of Alex Bregman's horse in the derby tonight (: Quintin Berry IG) pic.twitter.com/9PoUjw1tbI— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) September 18, 2026 The entire squad saluting Concepcion–'AXEL! AXEL! AXEL!'; @a_concepcion16 gets it done for @ABREG_1 and the @Cubs pic.twitter.com/57bX3rWY1A— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) September 18, 2026 Concepcion literally riding on Rolison's back Typically mild-mannered manager Craig Counsell and shortstop Dansby Swanson (set to return this weekend from an oblique injury–is this really wise?) jumping up and down, hooting and hollering like they'd won the lottery; The Cubs celebrating @ABREG_1 horse winning at Churchill Downs! pic.twitter.com/hNLbDVAMRK— Timmy Smith (@timmysmith26) September 18, 2026 Starting pitcher Kevin Gausman looking every bit a racetrack veteran, adult beverage held high in his pitching hand and looking smart in a Panama hat. Act of Parliament will carry new colors next time, as he was claimed, and with earnings of $27,108 from the victory, Bregman did not quite get back to even on the transaction.The 32-year-old, who signed a 5-year, $175-million contract with the Cubs last off-season, has–to be sure–had many bigger and more important victories at the races than this one, but the experience is likely to prove one of the more memorable ones at a racetrack all the same. Off day W courtesy of @ABREG_1's horse at @ChurchillDowns. pic.twitter.com/jC40JhFvQG— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 18, 2026The post Bregman and Teammates Celebrate Under The Thursday Night Lights appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.