Spooky Channel up late in Sycamore, gives trainer Barkley first graded stakes win of career

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Giving trainer Jason Barkley the first graded victory of his training career, Spooky Channel wore down Two Emmys in the final yards Friday in winning the Grade 3, $150,000 Sycamore Stakes on the Keeneland turf.

Spooky Channel, a 7-1 chance in a field of 11 older turf marathoners, got a perfect stalking trip under Julien Leparoux, staying close to front-running Two Emmys while saving ground on all three turns of the 1 1/2-mile turf race. Down the stretch, Spooky Channel angled out before pushing past late, prevailing by a neck.

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“It’s a pretty good feeling,” an emotional Barkley said in the post-race interview. “Horses will take you places.”

Barkley began his training career in July 2017.

Spooky Channel, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by English Channel, paid $16.40 after finishing in 2:29.71 over a course rated good.

On a dank, chilly afternoon, Two Emmys immediately sprung to an open lead from his outside post in his first start since a 27-1 upset of the Aug. 14 Mr. D, formerly known as the Arlington Million. Rating kindly throughout for James Graham, he battled to the bitter end, only to be collared by Spooky Channel as the wire neared.

Spooky Channel “put me in the right spot,” said Leparoux. “I knew we were following the one to beat. When we found room, he kicked home. It was a nice race.”

Ry’s the Guy was third, another 4 1/4 lengths behind Two Emmys. Bama Breeze was fourth, while Glynn County, the 2-1 favorite, was not a serious factor and finished ninth.

Spooky Channel was claimed on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs for $80,000 by Barkley on behalf of N B S Stable. The gelding was winning for the second time in five starts for his new connections and now has won 11 of 25 overall. He previously had won two Grade 3 races.

Barkley, 32, grew up in western Kentucky, the son of trainer Jeff Barkley. He graduated from the University of Louisville equine program while working his way up through the ranks for several trainers, including Paul McGee and Wesley Ward. His first winner came at the 2017 Keeneland fall meet, and his first graded stakes win came just last month when Spooky Channel won the Remington Green at Remington Park.

The $2 exacta (6-12) paid $94.60, the $1 trifecta (6-12-4) returned $410.60, and the 10-cent superfecta (6-12-4-9) was worth $363.39.

Racing continues Saturday at Keeneland with a pair of seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds, the Perryville (race 7) and Grade 2 Raven Run (race 9) for fillies. General admission is sold out.