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Spooky Channel Gets Perfectly Timed Ride To Win John B. Connally Turf Cup

Trainer Mike Maker had his streak of six consecutive victories in the John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas, snapped last year when Brad Cox-trained Dot Matrix defeated Bemma's Boy and Marzo from Maker's deep stable of turf runners.

Maker came loaded again this year, with three starters in Sunday's $200,000, Grade 3 Turf Cup, just as he did in 2020. Once again, however, he had to settle for the minor awards as 3-2 favorite Spooky Channel, from the Brian Lynch stable, collared Maker's pace-setting Conviction Trade inside the furlong pole, then held off a furious late rally by Maker-trained Ajourneytofreedom to win by a neck.

Spooky Channel, a 6-year-old English Channel gelding owned by Terry Hamilton, was clocked in 2:30.94 on a firm grass course for the 1 1/2 miles of the Turf Cup. He paid $5 for the win, his ninth in 18 career starts. Ajourneytofreedom finished a length ahead of Conviction Trade, giving Maker a 2-3 finish for the second year in a row. Tenfold was fourth for trainer Steve Asmussen, with Ken McPeek-trained Signalman fifth in the field of a dozen older runners.

The John B. Connally Turf Cup was one of six stakes – two of them graded – offering over $1 million in purses on Sunday's Houston Racing Festival as Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas,

It was a big day for the track, with a record $5.3 million wagered on the 10-race card.

“We are thrilled with the success of this year's Houston Racing Festival and getting a record handle of $5.3 million,” said Frank Hopf, senior director of racing. “It was a team effort from everyone at Sam Houston and our thanks go out to all the horsemen and owners for supporting our meet. This would not be possible without our horseplayers, both here in Texas and nationally. It was a great day.”

Leparoux allowed Spooky Channel to settle into fifth position after breaking from the 10-post in the three-turn Turf Cup. Rafael Hernandez put Conviction Trade in front from the start, going an opening quarter mile in :24.57, a half mile in :48.97 and six furlongs in 1:14.00. Leparoux began asking Spooky Channel to pick it up with a half mile to run, the mile clocked in 1:40.52, and by the time they reached the quarter pole, after 1 1/4 miles in 2:05.67, he was on the front-runner's right flank.

Conviction Trade fought back and maintained a half-length lead with a furlong to run, but Spooky Channel finally put him away just as Ajourneytofreedom and Jesus Castanon emerged on the scene with a powerful stretch rally that came up just short at the wire.

“I have ridden him before and felt he would like this turf course,” said Leparoux. “Brian and I talked and we knew he would have enough to come off the pace and make his run. He left it up to me and the horse did exactly what he hoped for.”

Spooky Channel began his racing career for Hamilton in Arizona in the care of trainer Clay Brinson, winning six of his first eight starts at Turf Paradise, including the 1 7/8-mile Hasta La Vista Handicap.

After shipping east and being transferred to Lynch's barn (following one off-the-board finish at Canterbury Park), Spooky Channel has won three of nine, including the G3 W.L. McKnight Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January 2020. Following a sixth-place finish in the G1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park last July 4, was given some time off, then returned to be fourth in the G2 Ft. Lauderdale at Gulfstrealm Park on Dec. 12. He trained up to the Turf Cup at Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida.

“It was exciting to be part of the big stakes day at Sam Houston Race Park,” said Lynch from his base in South Florida. “Spooky Channel is a true marathoner and ran a great race. Julien is a multiple Eclipse winning rider and I am one of his biggest fans. I am grateful to my owner Terry Hamilton, who is also a great friend.”

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Maker Sends Three In Search Of Eighth Victory In Connally Turf Cup

The Houston Racing Festival will take place on Sunday, Jan. 31 with a special afternoon post time of 1:45 pm (CT). The event includes six stakes, highlighted by the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic with the acclaimed Connally Turf Course receiving its fair share of attention in the entry box as well.

Trainer Mike Maker has won seven of the past nine editions of the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup which is contested at the distance of one and one-half miles. A field of 12, including three turf specialists from the barn of Maker will compete in this year's edition.

One of his prospects this year, Three Diamonds Farm's Marzo, ran third in last year's edition of the race before running in the G1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga. Sired by Medaglia D' Oro, Marzo has won four races and $310,000 to date. He will break from post six with Albin Jimenez in the saddle.

“Marzo had been off since running in the Sword Dancer last August at Saratoga,” said Maker. “He did not handle the synthetic surface at Turfway Park (on Dec. 31). We just used that race as a workout.”

Ajourneytofreedom closed to complete the superfecta in the $100,000 Gio Ponti at Aqueduct last November for owners Paradise Farm Corp. and David Staudacher. The 4-year-old gelded son of Hard Spun will be ridden by Jesus Castanon, breaking from post three.

“I believe he will love the Sam Houston turf course,” Maker stated.

Maker's third starter is Conviction Trade, who was claimed by Staudacher and tested his distance prowess last month in the H. Allen Jerkens, a two-mile turf stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Kentucky-bred son of Exchange Rate held the lead throughout the race, but had to settle for second.

“He had a good trip and showed his liking for the distance,” said Maker, who will give a leg up to rider Rafael Hernandez. “He was a little unlucky to lose, but that should set him up well for the Connally.”

Maker's past Connally winners include Papa Bodie in 2012; Admiral Kitten in 2014; Coalport in 2015; Da Big Hoss in 2016 and a three-peat by Three Diamonds Farm's Bigger Picture who captured the 2017-2019 editions of the turf stakes. Last year, Maker finished second and third to the Brad Cox trained Dot Matrix.

“I was disappointed, for sure,” admitted Maker. “I felt that each of my horses had a chance, but that's racing. Guess I will just have to start a new streak on Sunday!”

Maker's trio will have some very stiff competition from a number of quality turf runners including Spooky Channel who has been tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line choice. Owned by Terry Hamilton, he is impeccably bred for the turf, sired by English Channel out of the Kitten's Joy mare Spooky Kitten. Trainer Brian Lynch gave the chestnut gelding a freshening following his start in the G1 Manhattan last July at Belmont Park. His first race back was the G1 Ft. Lauderdale on Dec. 12 at Gulfstream Park, where he ran fourth to Largent. Lynch opted to send the eight-time winner to Houston instead of defending his title in the W.L. McKnight last Saturday at Gulfstream Park. He drew post position ten and will be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

“I thought the Connally was a very appealing fit,” said Lynch from his base in South Florida. “Spooky Channel is a marathon sort of horse and Julien has won on him before. He came off a long layoff for the Ft. Lauderdale and finished well. I believe he will enjoy the Houston turf course.”

Signalman will make his first start at Sam Houston when trainer Ken McPeek sends in the 5-year-old son of General Quarters for owners Tommie M. Lewis, Steve Crabtree, Dean Demaree, David A. Bernsen, LLC and Jim Chambers. The Kentucky-bred will be making his 18th career start and has already banked $671,005, largely from his purse money from the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and victory in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs. Jockey Reylu Gutierrez has the mount and will break from post position two at odds of 12-1.

“He has run well on the synthetic (at Turfway Park) and I definitely think he will like the distance,” said McPeek. “In a full field, it's all about the timing, but I feel Reylu will get him into a good position.”

Claim To Fame Stable's Tut's Revenge has a solid turf record with five wins from seven starts for trainer Clinton Stuart. The 5-year-old gelding by Eskendereya had a great season at Remington Park, winning his last two and finishing second in the Remington Park Green. Ry Ekleberry has the call at odds of 9-2.

The John B. Connally Turf was awarded Grade 3 status in 2006 and boasts a solid roster of past winners including Chorwon, Fort Prado, Rod and Staff as well as three-time winners, Candid Glen and Bigger Picture.

The field for the Connally Turf Cup, to be run as race nine, from the rail, with riders and morning-line odds:

Celerity, Iram Diego, 30-1; Signalman, Reylu Gutierrez, 12-1; Ajourneytofreedom, Jesus Castanon, 10-1; Tenfold, Stewart Elliott., 6-1; Conviction Trade, Rafael Hernandez, 7-2; Marzo, Albin Jimenez, 10-1; Tuts Revenge, Ry Ekleberry, 9-2; Chagi, Weston Hamilton, 50-1; Vettori Kin(Brz), Miguel Mena, 20-1; Spooky Channel, Julien Leparoux, 5-2; Strong Tide, Sophie Doyle, 30-1 and Henley's Joy, Declan Carroll ,15-1.

As previously announced, the ninth renewal of the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic will run as the eighth race on the Houston Racing Festival Card. The field of seven, from the rail, with riders and morning line odds, is as follows: Motion Emotion, Miguel Mena, 7-2; Jeweled Princess, Reylu Gutierrez, 8-1; Ujjayi, Rafael Manuel Hernandez, 6-1; Lady Apple, Stewart Elliott, 4-1; Figure It Out, Lane Luzzi, 15-1; Shes Out Fastest, Ry Ekleberry, 20-1 and Letruska, Jesus Castanon, 1-1.

“The goal five years ago was to create a special day of racing not only for our fans in Houston but develop an event that would evolve into a great day of racing on a national level,” said Frank Hopf, Sam Houston Race Park's Senior Director of Racing Operations. “None of this is possible without the tremendous support we have received from the trainers and owners. The 2021 edition of the Houston Racing Festival is an indication we are getting closer to our goal.”

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Gulfstream Park: Sir Anthony Posts Jerkens Upset; Sunday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Has $550,000 Guarantee

Déjà vu at Gulfstream Park.

Richard Otto Stables Inc.'s Sir Anthony, winner of the 2018 Harlan's Holiday (G3) at odds of 25-1, ran down the pacesetter Conviction Trade to win Saturday's $75,000 H. Allen Jerkens at two miles at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Odds for Sir Anthony in the Jerkens? 25-1.

A 5-year-old by Mineshaft winless in four previous attempts on the turf, Sir Anthony covered the rare, two mile distance in a track record 3:19.48 under jockey Julien Leparoux. The Jerkens was Sir Anthony's first victory since winning the 2019 Cornhusker (G3).

“We've been trying for a race for him on the dirt and it's been a while since he won. I was really looking for a confidence race for him and to get a race past a mile, which is tough to do,” said trainer Anthony Mitchell. “The opportunities out there were really for longer races on the turf, so we gave him a couple of runs on the turf in Arlington and it looked like he was OK on it, so we had that in the back of our mind. Moving forward we were looking for a race past a mile and an eighth. The opportunity to go two miles was out there and we presented it to the owner. He agreed, so we took a crack at it.”

Conviction Trade and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. took the field of 11 through fractions of :26.06, 51:57, 1:17.05 and 1:41.81 and held the lead entering the stretch before Sir Anthony and Leparoux took over inside the eighth pole.

“I said it after he won the Harlan's Holiday, they don't give him the respect he deserves,” Anthony said. “The owner is a pure champion of a man. He's been good to me and our relationship has been 26 years now. He bred this horse, along with a lot of other graded stakes winners that I've had. Full credit to Mr. Otto.”

Sunday's Rainbow 6 Guarantee $550,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 will have a guaranteed pool of $550,000 when racing resumes Sunday with a 12:05 p.m. first race post.

Multiple winning tickets in Saturday's Rainbow 6 returned $24,981.16.

The jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover Sunday of $5,069.17.

Sunday's Rainbow 6 sequence begins in the sixth race, post time 2:38 p.m., with a claiming event at 1 1/16 mile on the turf. Four of the six races in the sequence will be contested on the turf.

The third leg, an allowance optional claimer for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 mile on the turf, features an intriguing cast including Gary Barber's Declarationwarrior, making her first start since in 10 months since finishing third in the Herecomesthebride (G3), Princesa Caroline, graded-stakes placed at Del Mar as a juvenile and making only her second start in 13 months, Mimina's Team, making her first start since May when finishing fifth in the Honey Ryder here at Gulfstream, and Setting the Mood, making her first start since finishing fourth in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) in September.

Who's Hot: Irad Ortiz Jr. had three winners Saturday with Amount ($5.20) in Race 5, Colonel Liam ($4.40) in Race 8 and the Tropical Park Derby, and What's to Blame ($23.80) in Race 9. Jockey Julien Leparoux won two stakes, taking the Jerkens with Sir Anthony and the Tropical Park Oaks with Vigilantes Way ($7).

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