Channel Cat Holds Off Gufo to Win Man o War bloodhorse.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bloodhorse.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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A half brother to multiple stakes winner Hogy, Gufo won the English Channel with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard
Saturday s Grade 1, $700,000 Man o War Stakes at Belmont Park drew a field of eight top level marathon turf runners with seven having proven competitive at this level in races around North America. Then there s Sovereign, making his North American debut and returning to the races after last racing in November. Sovereign has earned $1.14 million in his career, top in this field, the bulk of that when winning the Group 1 Irish Derby in the summer of 2019.
Next in terms of earnings is Channel Cat, who won the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes in the summer of 2019 as well and who finished second in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes in his most recent race. Another horse which earned a big win in 2019 but not since is Ziyad, who was victorious in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Deauville in August of that year. He makes his third start in the U.S. since importing last fall and
Turf Paradise, Horsemen at Odds on Track Safety bloodhorse.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bloodhorse.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Opening weekend at Keeneland, 2021
Saturday s Grade 2, $200,000 Elkhorn Stakes is one of two marathon 1 1/2-mile graded stakes during the Keeneland spring meeting. This race is for males and the Bewitch Stakes next week is for females. Ten horses entered the Elkhorn this year and most have top credentials in similar races.
In terms of career earnings, the field is led by Channel Cat, winner of over $950,000 in his career in similar races. However, the now 6-year-old is returning from three months off and hasn t won since taking the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes in August of 2019. Similarly, Cross Border has earned in excess of three-quarters of a million dollars but hasn t won since last July when victorious in the Lubash Stakes. Next there s 2019 Elkhorn runner-up Red Knight, who also captured the similar Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland last fall, and is returning from a five month layoff.
Jockey Club Gold Cup, Flower Bowl Shifted to Saratoga bloodhorse.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bloodhorse.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.