Francesca Le Donne Photo

Channel Cat could potentially give G1 Manhattan a fur-midable entry off G1 Man o’ War victory

by NYRA Press Office

• Channel Cat could potentially give G1 Manhattan a fur-midable entry off G1 Man o’ War victory
• G3 Peter Pan-winner Promise Keeper carrying the flag for breeder Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds
• Victim of Love earns another ‘big city’ win in G3 Vagrancy
• Harvey’s Lil Goil garners 101 Beyer in 4-year-old debut
• Cross Country Pick 5 pays $38K; tallies total pool of $136K

In a little more than nine months, trainer Jack Sisterson went from searching for his first Grade 1 win to achieving one at all three NYRA-operated tracks, with Calumet Farm homebred Channel Cat’s victory by a nose over Gufo in Saturday’s $700,000 Man o’ War at Belmont Park checking the final box.

Channel Cat earned the highest Beyer Speed Figure in three starts of his 6-year-old campaign with a 98 number for the effort, which added to Sisterson’s 2020 wins with Vexatious in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga Race Course and True Timber in the Cigar Mile Handicap in December at Aqueduct Racetrack.

“It’s very humbling,” Sisterson said. “I grew up with a dream but every time I dreamed, the alarm clock went off. Fortunately enough, there wasn’t an alarm clock that got in the way yesterday. But I can’t take any credit for this. I have to thank Channel Cat, and Calumet Farm for all they do. Unfortunately, I can’t have all 50 staff members who do all the hard work in the winner’s circle. The microphones are on me, but I just represent the staff, because they do all the hard work.

“It’s not me winning the Grade 1. It’s a big team effort,” he added. “You’d like to win a Grade 1 anywhere, but in New York, I used to read about races like the Man o’ War and the Personal Ensign and the Cigar Mile. To be in a position to even compete in them, it’s an honor. I’m just thankful for everyone behind the scenes who work to allow our horses to compete at this level.”

Sisterson, who worked under prestigious trainers Doug O’Neill and newly named Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, went out on his own in 2018. He’s had success with Channel Cat, who started his career under Pletcher’s care, before being transferred to Sisterson late in 2020.

After running fifth in the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight to start his 2021 campaign in January at Gulfstream Park, the son of English Channel ran a competitive second to Say the Word in the Grade 2 Elkhorn going 1 1/2 miles on the Keeneland turf on April 17.

Sisterson worked Channel Cat once on the Keeneland main track before shipping to New York for the Man o’ War, where Hall of Famer John Velazquez sent him to the front, setting the pace before the half-mile mark while having enough in reserve to fend off favorite Gufo’s late charge to win the head bob in the 1 3/8-mile route.

“We were coming back in three weeks, but we had monitored him coming out of the Elkhorn and breezed him on the dirt and he breezed very well over it,” Sisterson said. “He had put on weight and looked good and we had to go for the Man o’ War yesterday because he was doing so well. It was a tough field but we had an advantage with Velazquez riding. We couldn’t have asked for a better setup going into the race.”

Channel Cat has primarily used his late-closing ability in recent starts, but Velazquez changed tactics on Saturday, dueling Field Pass at the front before leading the eight-horse field while finishing strong enough to complete the course in 2:13.34 under heavy pressure. Velazquez added another Grade 1 win to his ledger a week after posting the Kentucky Derby-Kentucky Oaks double with Medina Spirit and Malathaat.

“Going from the barn to the paddock, Channel Cat definitely looked energetic leading into the race,” Sisterson said. “There’s been a spark in his training. It didn’t surprise me that he was forwardly placed. I don’t tell jockeys what to do, I can only make mistakes and mess it up for them. All the credit goes to John Velazquez for winning that race yesterday.”

Another quick turnaround could be a possibility with the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Manhattan going 1 1/4 miles on the turf a potential spot for Channel Cat on Belmont Stakes Day June 5. Sisterson said he’ll see how Channel Cat comes out of his victory before deciding to enter, leaving open the possibility of targeting the Grade 1 United Nations on Monmouth Park’s Haskell Day card July 17.

Channel Cat ran fifth, just 3 3/4 lengths back to winner Bricks and Mortar, in the 2019 Manhattan in a year in which he ran third in the United Nations, won the Grade 2 Bowling Green and finished third in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at the Spa. Overall, Channel Cat is 6-3-5 in 26 career starts and upped his career earnings past the $1 million mark with his Man o’ War score [$1,373,522].

“It took us awhile to figure him out,” Sisterson said. “I take the blame for his poor performance in the McKnight. I was breezing the horse too fast in the mornings and he ran a flat race, so I gave him two weeks off and I backed off him and slowed his works right down. I have a great staff and we figured out the way Channel Cat likes to be trained. We usually don’t run them back that quick, so I just want to make sure I’m not running him back too quick. We’re not going to count out the Manhattan and we’ll leave it up to Channel Cat.

“We’ll get him back home to Keeneland and turn him out in the paddock,” he added. “If we don’t feel the Manhattan is the right spot for him, we might try the United Nations at Monmouth and come and wait for Saratoga for him. We have options; he’s won the Bowling Green at Saratoga, so he likes the turf course up there. I don’t want to get greedy and be selfish here. We have to put it in Channel Cat’s hands now.”

Sisterson also singled out Calumet's farm manager Eddie Kane for praise, with the Kentucky-bred Channel Cat just one of the operation’s many success stories.

“The one person I’d like to dedicate Channel Cat’s victory yesterday to is Eddie Kane, because if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be in this position,” Sisterson said. “He does everything. To be able to represent Eddie and Calumet with a homebred and win a race like that, I have to give credit.”

G3 Peter Pan-winner Promise Keeper carrying the flag for breeder Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds

Woodford Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm and Rock Ridge Racing’s Promise Keeper posted a 2 1/4-length score in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan, proving himself a top contender for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 5.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the Constitution chestnut, piloted by Luis Saez, stalked the early pace of Wolfie’s Dynaghost before taking control at the stretch call and fending off Nova Rags and stablemate Overtook's charge.

Out of the Curlin mare Mira Alta, Promise Keeper was bred in Kentucky by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, which was established in 2013 and is located in Versailles, Kentucky.

Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds is owned by Kerry Smith, proprietor of Smith Contractors, Inc., his wife Lou, their son Joe and his nephew Codee Guffey.

The 30-year-old Guffey, who oversees the operation with his wife, Hailey, makes his primary living with the family-owned construction business.

“We're new to the industry. We bought the farm in 2013 and I went to my first Keeneland sale that fall,” said Guffey. “The mare, Mira Alta, we purchased in our second year in the industry. We're still learning and to be able to get a mare like her early was a blessing.

“We keep 12 to 15 mares,” continued Guffey. “This is a family affair. My family owns a construction company and that's our livelihood. We decided to get into this as something we could all enjoy together. I work for the family business and my wife and I live on the farm and oversee the operation here. We never had horses before. We had some cattle. But being in the construction industry, we're not afraid to work. We just try and use a common sense approach and it's been very rewarding.”

Mira Alta was purchased for $200,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. In addition to Promise Keeper, she has produced the stakes-winner and graded-stakes placed mare Wicked Awesome and the graded-stakes placed colt War Stopper, who is in training with Pletcher for owners Salerno Stables and Madaket Stables.

Guffey said Mira Alta made a tremendous first impression.

“Her page is what made me mark her down, but it was her looks that got me hooked,” said Guffey. “She's a gorgeous chestnut mare with a blaze face. I like to say Promise Keeper got his looks from her. I know Constitution can throw some good-looking foals, but she's a gorgeous mare and she has a respectable pedigree in her own right.

“A sister to Mira Alta produced Owendale and he's a very nice colt,” added Guffey. “She's out of a nice mare that Stonestreet owns but I guess Mira Alta didn't earn a place in their band because she's unraced. Stonestreet has some very nice mares and they can't keep them all.”

Multiple Grade 1-winner Tiz the Law is currently the most famous son of Constitution. The New York-bred captured last year’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes for trainer Barclay Tagg and owner Sackatoga Stable.

Guffey said the farm has been a strong supporter of Constitution with the mating to Mira Alta priced at $15,000 before the stallion’s runners elevated his stud fee to $85,000. Promise Keeper was purchased by Woodford Thoroughbreds for $160,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Warrendale Sales.

“He was a super nice foal and yearling. He was always a standout,” said Guffey. “Unfortunately, the year we sold him, Constitution didn't have Tiz the Law or 3-year-olds at the time and just didn't have that hype about him yet. We were about a year early on that. But Woodford bought him for $160,000 and anytime you can get 10 times the stud fee, you best take it.”

Promise Keeper graduated at second asking when stretched out to one mile on February 6 over a sloppy Gulfstream Park main track ahead of a troubled stakes debut in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 6.

He redeemed himself with a dominant 5 1/2-length score in a nine-furlong optional claiming score on April 8 at Keeneland and proved his class with Saturday’s graded triumph which garnered a career-best 89 Beyer.

"We were really excited for the Tampa Bay Derby because we felt like he fit with those horses and was a top quality 3-year-old," said Guffey. "But he literally fell to a knee coming out of the gate. He lost a shoe. He got bumped in the turn. It was just a bad trip. We just decided to forget about that - it's horse racing.

"We were all there for his Keeneland win and that gave me the reassurance that he's the horse we thought he was,” he added.

Guffey said the farm bought back into Promise Keeper after his maiden win.

“We were fortunate to get back in on him after he broke his maiden and we were really proud of his effort yesterday,” said Guffey. “It's different when you raise these horses, you get a lot of emotional ties to them.”

Guffey said the farm generally breeds to sell, but bought back into Promise Keeper with an eye to supporting their star pupil at stud.

“We take everything to the sale and put a price on it, but we do tend to keep our homebred fillies and get blacktype and make mares out of them,” said Guffey. “We don't have a lot of desire to own the colts, but we always felt highly about this one.

“From a breeding standpoint, we'd love for him to become a stallion and be able to support him in that process.”

Guffey said Mira Alta, who has a 2-year-old by Shanghai Bobby, has again been covered by Constitution.

“We have an Honor Code filly that's a yearling. That one may not make the sale if Promise Keeper continues to improve," said Guffey. "The mare has a really nice Mastery colt at her side now. It's early, but we like to say it's her best one yet. He's a chestnut and has not quite the markings that Promise Keeper has, but he's a pretty colt.”

Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds is also the breeder of Hit the Woah, a dark bay daughter of Vancouver out of the More Than Ready mare Christie’s Ready.

Trained by Christophe Clement, the stakes-placed Hit the Woah is nominated to Saturday’s Grade 3 Soaring Softly at seven furlongs on the Belmont turf for sophomore fillies.

Guffey said he is proud of the farm’s early success from their young broodmare band.

“We only had eight foals from Promise Keeper's crop and he's now a Grade 3 winner,” said Guffey. “If we could get two graded stakes winners out of an eight-foal crop that would be a huge accomplishment for our breeding program. Hit the Woah is by Vancouver. He stood for $15,000 and we sold her for $150,000.

“I bought all young mares, so we have to be patient,” he added. “Hit the Woah was that mare's first baby. We have a Malibu Moon colt from her and she's back in foal to American Pharoah.”

While hope springs eternal in the breeding business, Guffey said his family is enjoying their foray into racing and would dearly love to be at Belmont Park on June 5 for the “Test of the Champion.”

“We sure have enjoyed it so far and hope to for many years,” said Guffey. “We have a great group here that works for us. If Promise Keeper is there June 5, we'll be there. I promise you that.”

Victim of Love earns another ‘big city’ win in G3 Vagrancy

Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' Victim of Love edged clear to a 2 1/4-length score in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares at Belmont Park.

Trainer Todd Beattie said it was an emotional victory after nearly losing the mare to colic following her third-place effort last summer in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga.

“I actually was a tick choked up in the interview yesterday after the race,” said Beattie. “She puts such an effort out and when she came back she was breathing hard. She just gives it to you and so many horses don't always give that effort, but she's not that way. Although that was fairly easy for her, she put in a big effort.

“She coliced last year at Saratoga after she was third in the Grade 1,” continued Beattie. “I had to go to surgery with her at Rood and Riddle and we had to nurture her back. When you nurture one back and they get all the way back there to where they left off the year before, that gives you a real sense of pride.”

The 5-year-old Speightstown mare, piloted by Joel Rosario, successfully defended her title in the 71st running of the prestigious sprint by stalking the early speed of Sadie Lady before taking command at the stretch call.

“Joel gave her a hell of a ride. You couldn't draw it up any better than that,” said Beattie. “She has tactical speed and he knew with the slow pace to go ahead and move a little earlier than you normally would. She put a good effort in.”

Victim of Love won last year’s renewal off a three-month layoff and entered Saturday’s title defense from a nine-week respite, garnering an 88 Beyer.

“She was fresh and the filly had really been doing good,” said Beattie. “She’s been on an upswing and the time away from the game freshened her up a little bit. I had hoped to have a prep, but a race at Maryland three weeks out didn't go.”

A native of Antigo, Wisconsin, hometown of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and the late horseman Clyde Rice, Beattie said he prefers to live in a small town and train from his private facility at Penn National.

“We have 50 stalls, a couple Equicizers and seven paddocks,” said Beattie. “I grew up in northern Wisconsin in the same town as Wayne Lukas and Clyde Rice and we raced bush races in Wisconsin. As soon as I graduated and could get paid to do this, I came out here and went to work for Clyde.”

Beattie is arguably best known for campaigning the multiple graded stakes winner Fabulous Strike, who won five graded events for the conditioner on the NYRA circuit, including the 2007 Grade 1 Vosburgh.

The veteran conditioner said as much as he enjoys and respects winning big races in New York, he looks forward to heading home.

“When I cross that Hudson, I have a lot of respect for those guys there,” said Beattie. “You have to come with a runner. We make darn sure we're coming with something that can run some.

“I'm 100 percent country boy,” added Beattie. “I don't do real well in the city. I appreciate the fact that I ship in and then see it in the rearview mirror and I get to go home at night to my little farm in the mountains.”

Beattie said Victim of Love’s win was well received by the local racing community.

“Penn National is a real big draw in the countryside. Everyone follows her closely,” said Beattie. “My phone blew up with everyone calling and congratulating me. They all feel part of it.”

Beattie’s wife, Amanda, is a key member of the team and gallops many of their horses, including Victim of Love. He said he values his wife’s honest assessment of their stock.

“She's a real accomplished rider and rides this filly a lot. Last year at Saratoga she did all the riding there and is a good road team person,” said Beattie. “My wife might say things that some people wouldn't say. She's an accomplished rider and it comes with a lot of wisdom. Every day you get up and work on the horses, you learn something new.

“We were both thinking she was going to lay a good one down,” he added. “We were concerned about the time off, but we felt she was going to lay it down. She's doing really good this morning, too. She ate all of her feed and looks good. I'm really happy with her.”

The accomplished Beattie owns a career record of 1,739 career wins from 8,156 starts for purse earnings of more than $27 million, but he said he prefers to keep his operation small.

“I'm a horse lover and I like working around the horses,” said Beattie. “I had times where I had a lot of horses and really didn’t like it. I had 100 horses at one time and I didn't like it at all. I ended up being a business manager rather than a horse trainer. I like to train horses. I ride every day myself and I like to work among the horses. That's how I was raised.”

Boasting a record of 18-6-3-3 with purse earnings of $408,199, Victim of Love has demonstrated remarkable consistency in the female sprinter division. The well-bred 5-year-old is out of the graded-stakes winning Awesome Again mare Spacy Tracy and is a full-sister to graded stakes winner Benner Island and multiple stakes-winner High North.

“I'm sure she'll be going into their broodmare band when the time comes. They’re looking for horses like her,” said Beattie.

Beattie, true to his horseman roots, said he is not quite ready to commit to a potential next start in the Grade 3, $300,000 Bed O’ Roses on June 4 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

“I'd rather have her tell me how she's doing and then come up with a plan for her,” said Beattie. “They all go a little better if you're really aiming for a spot rather than having the horse to tell you that you'd better pick a spot. We'll wait for her to tell the coach to look for a spot.”

Harvey’s Lil Goil garners 101 Beyer in 4-year-old debut

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said he was satisfied with a triumphant return to action from Harvey’s Lil Goil, who shook off the rust after a six-month layoff with a victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay at Belmont.

Owned by The Estate of Harvey A. Clarke, the daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner and third crop sire American Pharoah won her third graded stakes race in the 1 1/16 event over the inner turf.

Harvey’s Lil Goil stalked longshot Platinum Paynter and established command in upper stretch, holding off a late confrontation from Lemista in the final sixteenth to register a 101 Beyer. She was making her first start since a close third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on November 7 at Keeneland.

“She looked good yesterday, and looked good this morning,” said Mott, who also won the Beaugay with Delta Princess [2003] and Pommes Frites [2006]. “I think she has shown enough speed in the past in some of her races to be effective at that distance. She was probably as well-suited as some of the others in there, because I think some of the other horses in the race are better suited for longer distances.”

Following a fourth on grass in her career debut, Harvey’s Lil Goil won her first start over the main track in December 2019 at Aqueduct before taking the Busanda at the Big A.

She made a triumphant return to grass in the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs en route to a third in the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga. In her start prior to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare turf, Harvey’s Lil Goil became a Grade 1-winner when defeating accomplished runners Micheline and Magic Attitude in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup on October 10 at Keeneland.

Mott indicated that Harvey’s Lil Goil will seek to parlay her winning ways into the Grade 2, $750,000 New York on June 4.

A Kentucky homebred, Harvey’s Lil Goil is out of the unraced Tapit mare Gloria S – a half-sister to 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another as well as multiple graded stakes winner Golden Award.

Mott also saw his ever-improving Moon Over Miami add a Grade 1 placing to his resume with a hard fought inside stretch rally to finish third in the Grade 1 Man o’ War. Owned by Jane Lyon’s Summer Wind Equine, the bay son of Malibu Moon was 15 lengths off the pace in seventh early on and grew closer to the front around the turn as the field tightened. He was in pursuit along the rail with dead aim on pacesetter Channel Cat but came up a neck shy of victory.

Like Harvey’s Lil Goil, Moon Over Miami also first found the winner’s circle over the main track when scoring by five lengths in December 2019 at Aqueduct. Third time was the charm for Moon Over Miami, who became a winner on grass at third asking when defeating winners going nine furlongs at Churchill Downs.

Coming off a 3-year-old season which included a win in the Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs, Moon Over Miami was twice graded stakes placed at Gulfstream Park over the winter when third in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmada and second in the Grade 2 Pan American.

“He’s just improved with the surface change and the distance. I think both have really helped him,” Mott said.

Michael Shanley’s homebred Nova Rags added a second graded stakes pacing to his ledger when finishing 2 ¼ lengths to Promise Keeper in the Grade 3 Peter Pan going nine furlongs over the main track.

“He did well. He looked good this morning,” Mott said.

Mott also briefly spoke of Juddmonte Farms’ Obligatory, who won the Grade 2 Eight Belles on April 30 at Churchill Downs at 16-1 odds. The gray daughter of Curlin went back to one-turn after finishing a distant fourth in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, which was her two-turn debut.

“It didn’t hurt,” Mott said of going back to one turn. “But I wouldn’t rule her out of a two-turn race.”

Cross Country Pick 5 pays $38K; tallies total pool of $136K

The Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, showcasing action from Belmont and Churchill Downs, returned $38,536 for selecting all five winner’s for the 50-cent wager. The total pool was $136,014.

Gam’s Mission kicked off the sequence with a solid price, edging Flown by a neck in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance in Churchill’s Race 8. The race for Kentucky-bred sophomore fillies saw Gam’s Mission, trained by Cherie DeVaux, pay $17.80 on a $2 win wager. Jockey Adam Beschizza kept his charge off the pace and saw a strong push, hitting the wire in 1:43.82.

In Italian was the first of two favorites to win in the Cross Country Pick 5, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. piloting her to a win in a 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares in Belmont’s Race 8. In Italian, trained by Chad Brown, led gate-to-wire, drawing away for a 3 1/2-length score in a final time of 1:42.74. She paid $4.50 to win.

Crystal Ball was the second consecutive favorite to win, also leading at every point of call to capture a 1 1/16-mile main track allowance optional claimers in Churchill’s Race 9. Ridden by Florent Geroux, Crystal Ball posted a 1 1/2-length win in a final time of 1:42.78 for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Crystal Ball returned $3.40.

In the next race at Churchill, Lady Edith won at 24-1 to provide the sequence’s biggest payout at $51.60 for winning the $100,000 Mamzelle for 3-year-old fillies. Trained by Thomas Drury, Jr and ridden by Brian Hernandez, Jr., Lady Edith bested New Boss by a neck, capturing the five-furlong turf sprint in 57.04 seconds.

In the sequence’s finale, Hall of Famer John Velazquez rode Channel Cat to a win in the Grade 1, $700,000 Man o’ War for 4-year-olds and up going 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf. Off at 8-1, Channel Cat held off Gufo’s late charge to win by a nose, completing the course in 2:13.34 to give trainer Jack Sisterson his first career Grade 1 win at Belmont. Channel Cat paid $18.40.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.