Channel Marker Ends Dry Spell in Jaipur

Rigney Racing's Channel Marker became a graded stakes winner when he rallied late to take the $300,000 Jaipur Invitational Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park June 6 .

Rallying from fourth under jockey Francisco Torres, Channel Marker reeled in Something Extra in deep stretch to prevail by a length, snapping an eight-race losing streak.

Something Extra battled from the start with Power Alert through a half-mile in :45.32 over the Widener Turf Course that was labeled good. The two were a pair into the lane before Channel Marker joined them in the stretch, prevailing late under Torres, stopping the clock in 1:09.48 for the six-furlong distance.

"It was awesome, it was an awesome feeling," Torres said. "Especially out there today, everybody's watching, the sun gods and the Belmont gods shined on us today. He's been training up to this race so good. He got a little warm in the post parade, but he's that type of horse and he kind of works himself up. Broke sharp, broke running, and I just left him alone. I just pointed him turning for home, and he went on with it."

It was the fourth win from 17 career starts for the 6-year-old son of Purim who was bred in Kentucky by Royal Pegasus. He now has earned $361,846 in his career.

"He broke running today and involved himself early," winning trainer Philip Bauer said. "That was our biggest problem previously this year, is having too much work to do. I was comfortable down the backside, and turning for home I knew he'd put in his rally. So we're thrilled, we're really thrilled. He likes it (with some give in the ground). I think Churchill might have been a little too hard for his liking and that's kind of what it took to get him his rhythm going. This horse is just as honest as they come, so he's a proud member of the family."

Bauer was referring to the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs on May 1 when he finished sixth beaten by Power Alert.

After finishing second in his debut, Channel Marker broke his maiden on March 1, 2013, at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in an off-the-turf contest, before dropping his next four starts. He then won back-to-back starts Aug. 18 and Oct. 20 of 2013.

Channel Marker returned $23.60 to win, $7.70 to place and $3.90 to show, while Something Extra paid $5.70 to place and $3.50 to show. Ageless returned $3.20 to show.

Power Alert weakened to fourth and was followed out by Brickyard Kitten, favored Mosler, Unbridled's Note, Bellarmine, and Spring to the Sky.

The race was marred by the fatal breakdown of Helwan, who fractured his left front cannon bone entering the far turn and was euthanized on the track.