Channel Maker Seeks Bowling Green Repeat

Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Channel Maker is back at Saratoga Race Course to defend his title in the $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) July 27. The 5-year-old English Channel  gelding earned his first graded victory in last year's event when he dead-heated with Glorious Empire.

Channel Maker made last summer count at the Spa, also running second in the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T). He went on to win the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) in September and this year took the May 11 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park. The chestnut was fourth last out in the June 8 Manhattan Stakes (G1T), finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind division leader Bricks and Mortar.

"Everything's been great. No complaints, he's training well," said trainer Bill Mott. "If everything is OK, naturally, we'd like to go (back) to the Sword Dancer."

An accomplished field of 13 is entered for the 1 3/8-mile Bowling Green, run on Saratoga's inner turf course, for 4-year-olds and older.

Woodslane Farm's Sadler's Joy, a half-length behind Channel Maker in last year's edition when he finished third, will make his first start of the year Saturday. The 6-year-old son of Kitten's Joy  wrapped up 2018 with a third-place finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), well behind European runners Enable and Magical.

"He's doing great. He's training really well coming into this race," said trainer Tom Albertrani. "It's been a long lay up, but it was always our intention to give him a little break after the Breeders' Cup and not run at Gulfstream Park and try to have him ready for the Manhattan. We hit a couple of minor hiccups along the way, but now we're here and he's doing good. We hope to have a good summer and fall campaign with him."

The fast-closing Sadler's Joy scored his biggest victory with a last-to-first rally in the 2017 Sword Dancer.

"With his running style, he has to find a way to save ground in a big field, and sometimes it's hard to do," Albertrani said. "He's out the back in most of his races, so hopefully we can save some ground and not circle the whole field and come with that big run of his like always."

Adding an international flare to the mix is Ya Primo, a group 1 winner from Chile who races for Madaket Stables and Wonder Stables. Breeder Don Alberto Stable retained an interest in the 4-year-old son of Mastercraftsman. The Bowling Green will be Ya Primo's first start with trainer Chad Brown and his first race since a victory in the Longines Gran Premio Latinomericano (G1) March 10.

"He's won his last three down there, and we're very high on him," said Bradley Weisbord, who manages Madaket Stables. "He's shown lots in his works. We think he's a grade 1-caliber horse for America. Chad has done a great job with South American horses, and we expect him to run well."

Brown also will saddle French import Olympico, winner of the May 4 Fort Marcy Stakes (G3T) at Belmont and seventh in the Manhattan, and Focus Group, who won the March 30 Pan American Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream three starts back.

Adding to the competitive group are graded stakes winners Arklow, Bigger Picture, Catcho En Die, and Zulu Alpha, as well as graded stakes-placed runners Channel Cat, Highland Sky, and Red Knight. Argonne, a winner of three consecutive races, will make his stakes debut.

Entries: Bowling Green S. (G2T)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, July 27, 2019, Race 10

• Grade II
• 1 3/8m
• Inner turf
• $250,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 6:18 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Arklow (KY)	Florent Geroux	122	Brad H. Cox	9/2
2	2Sadler's Joy (KY)	Javier Castellano	120	Thomas Albertrani	6/1
3	3Ya Primo (CHI)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	Chad C. Brown	8/1
4	4Catcho En Die (ARG)	Eric Cancel	120	Naipaul Chatterpaul	50/1
5	5Channel Maker (ON)	Joel Rosario	124	William I. Mott	7/2
6	6Highland Sky (KY)	Manuel Franco	118	Barclay Tagg	20/1
7	7Argonne (KY)	Junior Alvarado	118	H. James Bond	30/1
8	8Zulu Alpha (KY)	Jose Lezcano	124	Michael J. Maker	10/1
9	9Red Knight (NY)	Julien R. Leparoux	118	William I. Mott	12/1
10	10Channel Cat (KY)	Luis Saez	122	Todd A. Pletcher	12/1
11	11Olympico (FR)	John R. Velazquez	120	Chad C. Brown	10/1
12	12Focus Group (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Chad C. Brown	8/1
13	13Bigger Picture (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	124	Michael J. Maker	10/1