Grade 1 Winner Channel Maker Seeks Consecutive Elkhorns

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Grade 1 Winner Channel Maker Seeks Consecutive Elkhorns
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Photo: Mathea Kelley
Channel Maker wins the 2022 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland

One of trainer Bill Mott's most recognizable faces in the shed row, multiple grade 1 winner Channel Maker  will make his 51st start April 22 at Keeneland when he looks for a consecutive win in the $350,000 Elkhorn Stakes (G2T).

The flashy 9-year-old son of English Channel will join a field of nine other 4-year-olds and up for the 1 1/2 mile event contested over the Lexington oval's turf course.

Channel Maker will seek to join a small group of only three other horses that have won the Elkhorn back-to-back, including Musketier  (2010-2011), Kim Loves Bucky (2002-2003), and African Dancer (1998-1999), who was also trained by Mott.

The Eclipse Award-winning gelding began his career at Woodbine in 2016 and has gone on to six wins in graded company while also earning the title of 2020 champion turf male for the partnership of Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing.

Bred in Ontario by Tall Oaks Farm, the chestnut has earned $3,731,482 for his connections from a record of 9-6-5.

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Trinity Farm homebred Red Knight  heads to the Elkhorn from a win in the Jan. 28 William L. McKnight Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park, which was his first start since a disappointing finish at last year's Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). Conditioned by Mike Maker, this will be the gelding's third try at the Elkhorn after finishing runner-up in the 2019 edition and fifth in 2021.

Maker, who won the Elkhorn with Dark Cove  (2013), Da Big Hoss  (2016), Bigger Picture  (2019), and Zulu Alpha  (2020), will also send out Value Engineering , a 7-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid who took the Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream last out. The gelding races for Michael Hui who purchased him for $35,000 from the Elite consignment to the 2022 Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Other entrants include millionaire and 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) competitor Tiz the Bomb  who is looking for his first win of 2023 for trainer Kenny McPeek. Thus far, the 4-year-old colt's best year was as a juvenile when he won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Stakes, Bourbon Stakes (G2T), and was runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T). His two trips to the winner's circle last year for owner Brookdale Racing were the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3)—both at Turfway Park.

Completing the field are Rising Empire , Another Mystery , Shawdyshawdyshawdy , Howe Street , Highest Honors , and Verstappen .


Entries: Elkhorn S. (G2T)

Keeneland, Saturday, April 22, 2023, Race 8

  • Grade IIT
  • 1 1/2m
  • Turf
  • $350,000
  • 4 yo's & up
  • 4:44 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Channel Maker (ON)Keeneland Sales Graduate John R. Velazquez 118 William I. Mott 9/2
2 2Value Engineering (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tyler Gaffalione 120 Michael J. Maker 7/2
3 3Rising Empire (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Florent Geroux 118 Brendan P. Walsh 6/1
4 4Another Mystery (IL) Jareth Loveberry 118 Chris M. Block 15/1
5 5Red Knight (NY) Gerardo Corrales 120 Michael J. Maker 5/2
6 6Shawdyshawdyshawdy (KY) Adam Beschizza 118 Jorge R. Abreu 30/1
7 7Howe Street (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Flavien Prat 118 Jorge R. Abreu 10/1
8 8Highest Honors (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 118 Chad C. Brown 5/1
9 9Verstappen (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Declan Cannon 118 Brendan P. Walsh 20/1
10 10Tiz the Bomb (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 118 Kenneth G. McPeek 30/1