Channel Cat chases return to win column in G2 Red Smith
At 0h02, on November 19, 2021 • By AQUEDUCT
Calumet Farm’s Channel Cat headlines a deep field assembled for Saturday’s 61st running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Red Smith Handicap going 1 3/8 miles for 3-year-olds and upward over the inner turf at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Channel Cat, a 6-year-old son of late turf champion English Channel, seeks his first triumph since capturing the Grade 1 Man o’ War in May at Belmont Park for trainer Jack Sisterson.
The chestnut fended off a confrontation from dual Grade 1-winner Gufo in late stretch to win the 11-furlong Man o’ War by a nose in his third start of this season. He arrives off a distant sixth in the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup on September 11 at Kentucky Downs, where he was forwardly-placed but finished 9 ¾ lengths back of the winner Imperador.
As the lone millionaire in the Red Smith, Channel Cat boasts earnings in excess of $1.4 million through a ledger of 29-6-3-5. He captured the Grade 2 Bowling Green in July 2019 in wire-to-wire fashion while racing for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
Channel Cat will see an equipment change for Saturday’s engagement and will sport blinkers for the first time since May 2019 when finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy at Belmont.
“He lacked that little bit of spark in his past couple of starts and the addition of blinkers will help him do that,” Sisterson said. “In the race at Kentucky Downs, he didn’t make the lead and didn’t really finish up. I felt that there was something missing the last two races and I think blinkers will help.”
Hall of Famer John Velazquez will seek his fourth Red Smith triumph when piloting Channel Cat, who will carry 126 pounds from post 7.
