Spooky Channel, Another Mystery to Battle in Connally

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Spooky Channel, Another Mystery to Battle in Connally
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
Spooky Channel wins the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds

Since receiving graded classification in 2006, the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) at Sam Houston Park has only had one horse win the race more than once. That distinction belongs to Bigger Picture , who won three straight from 2017-2019. 

But in this year's edition, set for Jan. 28, the race's last two winners are set to clash with a second Connally title on the line. 

Spooky Channel , winner of the 2021 edition of the Connally, is looking to build off of his successful return to the track after a 14-month hiatus as he recovered from a lesion on a tendon. 

Pulling away down the stretch in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds, Spooky Channel won by 2 1/4 lengths over English Tavern .

"He was training well so we decided to run him at Fair Grounds," said trainer Jason Barkley. "We had considered retiring him, but he had a huge comeback effort and came out of the race really well."

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Meanwhile, last year's winner, Another Mystery , is looking to rebound following a sixth-place effort in the H. Allen Jerkens Handicap. This will be his third appearance in the 1 1/2-mile Connally. 

Due to the recent Equine Herpesvirus positive at Gulfstream Park, Sam Houston Race Park will restrict horses from shipping in from Florida until further notice. This will affect three entrants: 2020 runner-up Bemma's Boy , Kinenos , and Bay Street Money .

Rounding out the field are Devamani , Logical Myth , Portos , Risk Manager , Seductive U S A , Scarlet Fusion , and U S Navy Cross .


Entries: John B. Connally Turf Cup S. (G3T)

Sam Houston Race Park, Saturday, January 28, 2023, Race 10

  • Grade IIIT
  • 1 1/2m
  • Turf
  • $200,000
  • 4 yo's & up
  • 5:55 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Scarlet Fusion (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Adam Beschizza 120 Joe Sharp 8/1
2 2Kinenos (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Corey J. Lanerie 116 Michael J. Maker 15/1
3 3Portos (KY) Lane J. Luzzi 116 Ron Faucheux 20/1
4 4Devamani (FR) Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez 116 Karl Broberg 30/1
5 5Bemma's Boy (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Reylu Gutierrez 116 Michael J. Maker 7/2
6 6Logical Myth (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Leandro D. Goncalves 116 Shawn H. Davis 15/1
7 7U S Navy Cross (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Sahin Civaci 118 Karl Broberg 30/1
8 8Risk Manager (KY) Weston Hamilton 120 Sarah Nicole Davidson 20/1
9 9Spooky Channel (KY) James Graham 123 Jason Barkley 5/2
10 10Another Mystery (IL) Jareth Loveberry 123 Chris M. Block 9/2
11 11Seductive U S A (KY) Rodolfo Guerra 118 Cesar Govea 30/1
12 12Bay Street Money (KY) Kendrick Carmouche 120 Michael J. Maker 6/1