Spooky Channel brings sparkling record to Wildcat Handicap

PHOENIX – Distance is the name of the game Saturday at Turf Paradise as 10 veterans go at it in the $30,000 Wildcat Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf (race 8). The Wildcat is led by the red-hot Spooky Channel, the 125-pound highweight.

Also on the card is the $30,000 Arizona Stallion Stakes (race 3). That mile main-track event matches six 3-year-olds who are all progeny of a nominated Arizona stallion.

Spooky Channel, a 4-year-old gelded son of grass champion English Channel, has been smashing in his brief career, with four wins and two seconds in six starts, all on this turf course. Owned by Terry Hamilton and trained by Clay Brinson, he’s won his last three, including the Turf Paradise Handicap here Feb. 9. After that he rallied from well off the pace to dominate an allowance here March 2. Denny Velazquez, the only rider he’s known, stays aboard.

Among his rivals are Crown the Kitten, a former Southern California runner who blasted optional claimers in his first start here March 19; Tiger by His Tail, a winner of three straight, including taking the Turf Distance Series finale here March 16 as the 1-5 favorite; Cleanup Hitter, third to Spooky Channel in the Turf Paradise Handicap and a rallying second to that rival in the allowance race here March 2; and Stratton, fourth to Spooky Channel in the Turf Paradise Handicap and third in that March 2 allowance race. Stratton was a sharp third, beaten just a head, in this race a year ago.

◗ Loud N Proud is the one to beat in the Arizona Stallion Stakes. Trained by Kevin Eikleberry, the 3-year-old gelded son of Margie’s Wildcat comes off an allowance sprint win here Feb. 23. He tries this mile trip for the first time.

Loud N Proud’s main threat may be stablemate filly Let Me Fly. The daughter of Ez Dreamer has been running in filly stakes since the fall. She was second in a pair of restricted sprints in November and December. Let Me Fly moves back in against restricted company after fading to sixth in the Arizona Oaks for open foes here Feb. 16.