Bowling Green Stakes Ends in Dead Heat

It was double the action in the Saratoga Race Course winner's circle July 28, as Glorious Empire and Channel Maker were both awarded victor's honors following a dead heat in the $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T).

On the early lead from the break in the 1 3/8-mile grass test, Matthew Schera's 7-year-old Glorious Empire set the pace under jockey Julien Leparoux, putting up fractions of :26.07, :51.69, and 1:17.01 through the first six furlongs. Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber's Channel Maker—a 4-year-old Canadian-bred gelding—settled in for a stalking trip in fourth. 

Still at the front as the field hit the mile marker in 1:41.31, Glorious Empire kicked away approaching the final turn and opened his largest lead at 3 1/2 lengths. 

Guided by jockey Joel Rosario, Channel Maker shifted out four wide at the top of the stretch and began to gain ground. Digging in at the sixteenth pole, he surged forward in a last-ditch attempt to catch Glorious Empire and got to the finish line just in time in the final strides. The dueling pair hit the wire in 2:19.41. 

"It was too close for me to call, and as I was coming down the steps I said, 'It could have been a dead heat,' because they were showing the race on the replay in slow motion a few times, and maybe it was," said Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott, who saddled Channel Maker. "We had him in some very tough races, and he is a sort of a come-from-behind horse. Sometimes he's had to deal with a lot of traffic, and he has had some trips where he has been stopped and shuffled around a bit.

"He got a clear run today, and it paid off today. We got there—I just wish we got one inch farther—but it was still a good race, and I'm proud of the horse and proud of everyone who has done a good job with the horse, and thankful to the owners (for) letting us run him in these good races."

Grade 1 winner Sadler's Joy showed late speed to finish third. Bigger Picture, Highland Sky, Hi Happy, Manitoulin, and Sarrasin completed the order of finish. Two-time Monmouth Stakes (G2T) winner Money Multiplier was scratched. 

"We weren't quite sure if he would like soft ground, but that was the plan—to get the lead and try to slow it down," said James Lawrence II, trainer of Glorious Empire. "It just worked out—just worked out. We wanted to get him out there by himself and let him settle and hopefully get away with easy fractions. At the top of the lane, I didn't think they would catch him."

Both trainers said the Aug. 25 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) could be a possible next target for their contenders.

Glorious Empire began his career in the U.K., where he won four times before he shipped to Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong in 2015. There he raced twice before a return to England. 

In 2016, Glorious Empire debuted in Canada for trainer Ed Walker and finished fifth in the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes. He was transferred next out to the barn of Thomas Morley before being claimed in May 2017 by Schera and trainer Carlos Martin. He finished first next time out in a claiming race at Saratoga but was unsuccessful in two subsequent attempts in graded company. Glorious Empire was transferred to Lawrence at the start of 2018 and entered the Bowling Green off a win in a June 28 optional-claiming allowance at Delaware Park.

Bred in Ireland by Patrick Grogan, out of the Pivotal mare Humble and Proud, Glorious Empire was purchased by Sackville Donald for $151,881 from the 2012 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Glorious Empire is the 75th black-type winner for his sire, Holy Roman Emperor. 

Saturday's win was the first for Channel Maker since he took home the Breeders' Stakes in August at Woodbine. Bred in Ontario by Tall Oaks Farm out of the Horse Chestnut mare In Return, the son of English Channel  improved his record to 3-3-3 from 18 starts, with earnings of $630,000. Channel Maker was consigned by Warrendale Sales to the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale but was an RNA at $57,000. He was purchased later via private sale. 

Video: Bowling Green S. (G2T)