Trainer Jack Sisterson aims to keep the presentation "in-house" for the $1 million Calumet Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) at Kentucky Downs Sept. 11.
As a private trainer for Calumet Farm, Sisterston has a leading contender for Saturday's 1 1/2-mile race with Calumet's homebred Channel Cat . The 6-year-old is one of two North American grade 1 winners entered, joining fellow millionaire Arklow.
Channel Cat, winner of the Man o' War Stakes (G1T) in May, is the 9-2 second favorite on the morning line behind 3-1 Arklow, who scored in the race in 2018 and 2020.
"It's humbling to be associated with a farm like Calumet and even have a presence in the race and hopefully represent them in a good way," Sisterson said. "We're excited for Saturday. I think we're going there with a legitimate chance. I'm sure I'll be dreaming Friday night that some representative of the farm will be presenting me a trophy, that sort of thing."
This year the winner will carry an additional prize: an automatic berth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 6. The race became part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series this year.
Though Channel Cat isn't a past winner of the Turf Cup like Arklow and Zulu Alpha, he is a local stakes winner, having won the Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Derby as a 3-year-old in 2018 when trained by Todd Pletcher.
Sisterson began conditioning Channel Cat in 2020, a couple of years after Calumet provided him with the start of his training career. Before 2018, he had been one of trainer Doug O'Neill's top assistants. During his time with O'Neill, he oversaw Reddam Racing's Nyquist when the colt trained at Keeneland leading up to his triumph in the 2016 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) at Churchill Downs. Keeneland is now Sisterson's base.
In two other top performances this year besides his victory in the Man o' War, Channel Cat ran second in the Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland in the spring and most recently was a close fourth in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course July 31.
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Channel Cat is a son of English Channel, the leading grass sire in North America who stands at Brad Kelley's Calumet Farm. Kelley previously owned Kentucky Downs, located in the town of Franklin, Ky., where he grew up.
While Channel Cat has been exhibiting more speed this year under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, Arklow has shown less.
After capturing the Louisville Stakes (G3T) in his seasonal debut, Arklow was slow into stride in the United Nations Stakes (G1T) and the Del Mar Handicap Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T) this summer. He ran a troubled sixth in the July 17 U. N., beaten 5 3/4 lengths, then was seventh, 1 3/4 lengths back, in the Aug. 21 Del Mar Handicap.
The 7-year-old son of Arch, who races for Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, and the Estate of Peter Coneway and is trained by Brad Cox, captured the 2019 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) in the highest-level win of his career.
Trainer Mike Maker has four entries entries in the main body of the field that include Tide of the Sea, Bluegrass Parkway, Ajourneytofreedom, and Glynn County.
Maker is a four-time Turf Cup winner, having won the race with Da Big Hoss (2015-16), Oscar Nominated (2017), and the recently retired Zulu Alpha (2019).
The Turf Cup and $1 million FanDuel Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) from Kentucky Downs will be televised on NBC from 4-5 p.m. CT.
Kentucky Downs, Saturday, September 11, 2021, Race 9Entries: Calumet Turf Cup S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Imperador (ARG) Joseph Talamo 122 Paulo H. Lobo 15/1 2 2Crossfirehurricane (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Michael W. McCarthy 20/1 3 3Channel Cat (KY) John R. Velazquez 124 Jack Sisterson 9/2 4 4Tide of the Sea (KY) Luis Saez 124 Michael J. Maker 6/1 5 5Arklow (KY) Florent Geroux 124 Brad H. Cox 3/1 6 6Bluegrass Parkway (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 124 Michael J. Maker 20/1 7 7Fantasioso (ARG) Umberto Rispoli 122 Ignacio Correas, IV 12/1 8 8Ajourneytofreedom (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 124 Michael J. Maker 10/1 9 9Glynn County (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 124 Michael J. Maker 15/1 10 10Epic Bromance (KY) Joe Bravo 122 J. Kent Sweezey 15/1 11 11Zulu Alpha (KY) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 122 Michael J. Maker 6/1 12 12Breakpoint (CHI) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Steven M. Asmussen 20/1 13 13Big Dreaming (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 122 Wayne M. Catalano 20/1 14 14Artemus Eagle (KY) Chase Miller 122 Waylon Cundiff 30/1 15 15Dynadrive (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Michael J. Maker 20/1 16 16Time for Trouble (KY) John McKee 122 Jeff A. Hiles 30/1
