Old-timers will have to dig deep to succeed in Sycamore

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Channel Maker and Arklow have combined to earn more than $6.7 million from 85 starts. The question is – Is either of them still good enough to win a Grade 3 turf marathon in the fall of their 8-year-old season?

That’s what horseplayers will be asking themselves when the Grade 3, $300,000 Sycamore Stakes is run Friday at Keeneland. Channel Maker, the champion male turf horse of 2020, and Arklow, a Grade 1 winner with five more graded triumphs to his credit, clearly are in the twilight of their respective careers, but either of them might have just enough left to do what is needed.

Channel Maker, owned by a three-way partnership, is back for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott when sporting a bankroll of nearly $3.7 million from 47 tries. The Ontario-bred gelding will be ridden again by Luis Saez, who gave him a heady ride in winning the Grade 2 Elkhorn here in the spring over the same 1 1/2-mile distance at which the Sycamore will be run. He’ll break from post 6 in this three-turn race.

Arklow (post 1, Joel Rosario), trained by Brad Cox throughout a 38-race career that began Nov. 6, 2016, will be looking to snap a six-race winless skein dating to May 2021. The son of Arch has banked more than $3 million for Donegal Racing and Joseph Bulger.

One more 8-year-old, Red Knight (post 2, Gerardo Corrales), became a millionaire last month when upsetting the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs for trainer Mike Maker. The New York-bred gelding shows no signs of slowing down, having won both of his starts this year.

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A pair of younger opponents, 5-year-old Highland Chief (post 4, John Velazquez) and 4-year-old Mira Mission (post 7, Julien Leparoux), both have the credentials to make an impact here. Highland Chief won the Grade 1 Man o’ War at Belmont Park in May with a 105 Beyer Speed Figure, while Mira Mission could be the “now” horse after doing everything but win the Grade 1 Sword Dancer on the Aug. 27 Travers card at Saratoga with a just-miss runner-up effort and career-best 103 Beyer.

Highland Chief had been intended to run last Saturday in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont, but a cough earlier in the week precluded him from being entered, trainer Graham Motion said.

“This was not my original plan,” said Motion, “but having said that, he has done very well of late, and I think he has really appreciated the cooler weather. Looking through it, this is a deep and competitive field.”

In all, 16 older horses are entered, but only as many as 12 can start.

The Sycamore pace might well be set by Accredit (post 5, Rafael Bejarano), stretching out from a pair of one-mile races, with possibly Channel Maker and Highland Chief among those in closest attendance. If they go too quickly, Mira Mission could pounce, with Arklow, Red Knight, or even Admission Office (post 3, Brian Hernandez Jr.) liable to be closing stoutly for trainer Brian Lynch.

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The 28th Sycamore, named for the ancient tree that looms above the picturesque Keeneland paddock, is the ninth of 10 Friday races. Lynch won it last year with Spooky Channel.

First post is 1 p.m. Eastern, with the feature going at 5:16. Sunshine and a high of 67 are in the Friday forecast.

Three allowances with six-figure purses (races 5, 6, 8) precede the Sycamore on an excellent program that also includes a $100,000 maiden-special (race 7) that drew a 2-year-old filly named Callie’s Grit. The twice-raced daughter of Maclean’s Music honors the memory of Callie Witt, the 20-year-old exercise rider and Nebraska native who died tragically at Keeneland in April from injuries suffered in a morning training accident.

All listed purses include substantial bonuses restricted to registered Kentucky-breds.

The Sycamore is the first of three straight graded turf stakes here this weekend. The Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup is set for Saturday, and the Grade 3 Franklin County for Sunday. The 17-day meet runs through Oct. 29.

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