Channel Cat gamely prevails in Bowling Green

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Saturday’s $250,000 Bowling Green at Saratoga may not have unfolded quite as trainer Todd Pletcher expected. But the end result turned out exactly as he’d hoped, with Channel Cat leading most of the way before clinging tenaciously to a half-length advantage over Ya Primo in the Grade 2 fixture for older horses.

With Luis Saez aboard, Channel Cat rushed to command leaving the backstretch the first time and set the pace while posting reasonable fractions of 24.66, 49.87, and 1:15.52 for the opening six furlongs over the firm course. Channel Cat repulsed a mild try from Argonne after the opening mile, dug in bravely when joined from the inside by Ya Primo at the top of the stretch, and was edging away again at the wire.

Ya Primo raced well placed within easy striking distance of the leader while saving ground throughout under Jose Ortiz. The Chilean-bred, a Group 1 winner making his first start in the U.S., made his move turning into the stretch the final time to join and arguably take a very brief advantage in late stretch before succumbing to the winner in the closing strides. Arklow rallied belatedly to finish another head farther back in third in a race where only two lengths separated the first seven finishers.

:: Get PPs, Clocker Reports, picks, and more from DRF's Saratoga/Del Mar One-Stop Shop

The Bowling Green gave Channel Cat the fifth and most important victory of his career. His two previous stakes wins came just 17 days apart at the end of his 3-year-old campaign in the Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs and Bald Eagle Derby over a yielding course at Laurel.

Channel Cat is a Calumet Farm homebred by English Channel, whom Pletcher trained to win 13 of 23 starts including the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Turf, before retiring with earnings in excess of $5.3 million. Channel Cat completed the distance in 2:14.43 and paid $29.20.

“We wanted to get away cleanly and get some position since it’s not a long run to the first turn going a mile and three eighths and we didn’t want to get hung out going three turns,” said Pletcher. “He kind of caught a flyer, got there easy and relaxed. Luis is riding with so much confidence. When he makes a decision like that, sometime it works out, and when he got that cozy lead and pricked his ears, I thought to myself 'We’ve got a chance.' I was a little concerned when they turned up the backside and [Argonne] started putting on some pressure. So, to his credit, he was able to put in a long, sustained run.”

Pletcher said Channel Cat was a typical English Channel.

“He keeps improving as he gets older, he doesn’t mind a little cut in the ground, and he’s a versatile horse with a versatile running style. He showed that today, and I think there’s still more to come.”

Pletcher said the Grade 1 Sword Dancer on Aug. 24 would likely be the next option for Channel Cat.

Jose Ortiz, who rode the runner-up Ya Primo, said he didn’t think he ever quite got in front of Channel Cat in the drive to the wire.

“I was in good position and had a good opening,” said Ortiz. “I never got in front of him. That horse has a lot of heart. When I got close to him, he got out, but he just kept going.”