Channel Maker (English Channel) added his second Grade I victory over the Belmont lawn Saturday, delivering a neck decision over Arklow (Arch) in the GI Man o' War S.
Channel Maker, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, wired the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic with a gaudy 108 Beyer Speed Figure the last time he stepped foot on the local lawn back in September, and was off the board in a pair of attempts at Gulfstream since, a fifth-place finish in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Jan. 26 and a fourth-place finish to Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}) in the GII Mac Diarmida S. Mar. 2.
The 6-1 shot sat third early as Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB})-one of two Aidan O'Brien invaders-zipped out to take a clear lead through sharp fractions of :22.98 and :47.47. Hunting Horn, fourth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic last time Mar. 30, seemed like he might just forget to stop as he headed for home still with a significant advantage, but he grew leg weary by midstretch and the cavalry charge started to bear down on him.
Channel Maker was the first to collar him, and he kept on to the wire, holding off a flourish from Arklow, who rallied smartly from last of nine. The filly Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the other O'Brien runner who was runner-up in the Pegasus World Cup Turf, wasn't far back in third, while Hunting Horn rounded out the super.
“He's a good horse and runs hard all the time,” winning rider Joel Rosario said. “I'm glad we got the money today. I thought the horse [Hunting Horn] around the last turn might keep going, but I thought he was going too fast for the distance and the last half-furlong would be tough to get. I felt confident, and he's [Channel Maker] the kind of horse that has a good, strong stride. The more you ride him, the more he gives to you.”
On possibly making his next start in the GI Manhattan on Belmont S. Day, June 8, co-owner Randy Hill said, “I'll leave that to Billy Mott, but I'm sure after the way he ran today that he's got the Manhattan right on his radar.”
Pedigree Notes:
A full-brother to Sovereign Award-winning turfer and two-time GI Northern Dancer S. hero Johnny Bear, Channel Maker hails from the extended female family of Lazy F Ranch's outstanding turf distaffer Auntie Mame (Theatrical {Ire}), who won Belmont's GI Flower Bowl Invitational. Channel Maker's third dam also includes Grade I winner Star de Lady Ann (Star de Naskra). In Return's last listed produce is a 3-year-old Court Vision maiden filly named Court Return who races for her breeder and trainer Josie Carroll. In Return was purchased by Tall Oaks Farm for $32,000 at the 2009 KEENOV Sale.
Saturday, Belmont
MAN O' WAR S.-GI, $700,000, Belmont, 5-11, 4yo/up, 1 3/8mT, 2:12.43, fm.
1–CHANNEL MAKER, 124, g, 5, by English Channel
1st Dam: In Return (SW), by Horse Chestnut (SAf)
2nd Dam: Bartered Bride, by Shadeed
3rd Dam: Lady Vixen, by Sir Ivor
($57,000 RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber,
R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing; B-Tall Oaks
Farm (ON); T-William I. Mott; J-Joel Rosario. $375,000.
Lifetime Record: 24-5-4-3, $1,917,108. *Full to Johnny Bear,
Ch. Turf Male & MGISW-Can, $702,706. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++
*Triple Plus*.
2–Arklow, 119, h, 5, Arch–Unbridled Empire, by Empire Maker.
($160,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger
& Peter Coneway; B-John & Frank Penn (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
$130,000.
3–Magic Wand (Ire), 116, f, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Prudenzia (Ire), by
Dansili (GB). (€1,400,000 Ylg '16 ARAUG). O-Tabor, Michael B.,
Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick; B-Ecurie Des
Monceaux & Skymarc Farm Inc (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien.
$70,000.
Margins: NK, HF, NK. Odds: 6.80, 6.20, 3.05.
Also Ran: Hunting Horn (Ire), Epical, Focus Group, Zulu Alpha, Village King (Arg), Kulin Rock. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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