Sycamore Draws Stacked Lineup for Keeneland Turf

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Sycamore Draws Stacked Lineup for Keeneland Turf
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Photo: Mathea Kelley
Channel Maker wins the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland

The Oct. 14 $300,000 Sycamore Stakes (G3T) has drawn a star-studded field of turf specialists to duel across a mile and a half, including four also-eligibles. Champion Channel Maker , fellow millionaires Arklow , Red Knight , and Man o' War Stakes (G1T) winner Highland Chief  join the field of 12 at Keeneland in the 28th edition of the race. 

Bill Mott will look for an encore performance from Channel Maker, who triumphed over the same course and distance in April in the Elkhorn Stakes (G2T). The son of English Channel is a $3,678,076 earner and four-time grade 1 winner for owners Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing.

Regular rider Luis Saez will be in the tack and break from post 6.

Donegal Racing and Joseph Bulger's six-time graded stakes winner Arklow, an earner of more than $3 million, will be looking to return to his winning ways. He was sixth last out in the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2T) Sept. 10 behind the opposing Red Knight at Kentucky Downs. Joel Rosario will guide the Arch  colt from post 1 for trainer Brad Cox.

Hot off a victory in the Kentucky Turf Cup, Trinity Farm's Red Knight attemps to go 3-for-3 this year with trainer Mike Maker, adding to his record of 10-8-1 in 29 starts. Gerardo Corrales, who was in the irons for his last win, will break from post 2. The 8-year-old Pure Prize  gelding has bankrolled more than $1.2 million, along with winning the 2020 Sycamore with then-trainer Mott.

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Trainer Graham Motion seeks to add a fourth Sycamore win to his résumé when he saddles Fitri Hay's Highland Chief. The Euro transplant by Gleneagles  landed the Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park in May and finished off the board in the Resort World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1T) in June.

October 8, 2022: Mira Mission working on the Keeneland turf Saturday morning
Photo: Rick Samuels
Mira Mission breezes under Julien Leparoux Oct.8 at Keeneland

Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust's Mira Mission  enters off a game second-place finish to Gufo  in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) in his last outing. The grade 3-winning son of Noble Mission  also finished second in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) on Derby day.

Trainer Ian Wilkes said of running Mira Mission in this race versus the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) run on Oct. 8, "I'm based here, so why ship 14 to 16 hours to New York and then back? He can run right out of his stall here and why risk the chance of shipping and knocking him out (of the Breeders' Cup).

"You've got to think of the horse and he's a small, lighter frame horse, so why put extra stress in shipping?"

Julien Leparoux retains the mount.

The field is completed by Admission Office  (Brian Hernandez Jr.); Accredit  (Rafael Bejarano); Temple  (Umberto Rispoli); British Royalty  (Ricardo Santana Jr.); Balthus  (Manny Franco); Another Mystery  (Florent Geroux); and Cellist  (Corey Lanerie). Also-eligible are: Highest Honors  (Tyler Gaffalione); Shawdyshawdyshawdy  (Adam Beschizza); Time for Trouble  (Joe Talamo); and Keystone Field  (Reylu Gutierrez).    

The Sycamore will run as the ninth race Friday with a post time of 5:16 p.m. ET and includes $50,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.


Entries: Sycamore S. (G3T)

Keeneland, Friday, October 14, 2022, Race 9

  • Grade IIIT
  • 1 1/2m
  • Turf
  • $300,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 5:16 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Arklow (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Joel Rosario 121 Brad H. Cox 4/1
2 2Red Knight (NY) Gerardo Corrales 125 Michael J. Maker 6/1
3 3Admission Office (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 121 Brian A. Lynch 20/1
4 4Highland Chief (IRE) John R. Velazquez 125 H. Graham Motion 9/2
5 5Accredit (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Rafael Bejarano 121 Pavel Matejka 30/1
6 6Channel Maker (ON)Keeneland Sales Graduate Luis Saez 125 William I. Mott 6/1
7 7Mira Mission (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 121 Ian R. Wilkes 7/2
8 8Temple (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Umberto Rispoli 125 Michael J. Maker 10/1
9 9British Royalty (ON) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 121 Barbara J. Minshall 30/1
10 10Balthus (IRE) Manuel Franco 121 Chad C. Brown 12/1
11 11Another Mystery (IL) Florent Geroux 123 Chris M. Block 15/1
12 12Cellist (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 123 George R. Arnold, II 30/1
13 13Highest Honors (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 121 Chad C. Brown 8/1
14 14Shawdyshawdyshawdy (KY) Adam Beschizza 121 Jorge R. Abreu 20/1
15 15Time for Trouble (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Joseph Talamo 121 Jeff A. Hiles 30/1
16 16Keystone Field (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Reylu Gutierrez 121 Michael J. Maker 20/1