Spooky Channel, Another Mystery to Battle in Connally

Since receiving graded classification in 2006, the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) at Sam Houston Park has only had one horse win the race more than once. That distinction belongs to Bigger Picture, who won three straight from 2017-2019. 

But in this year's edition, set for Jan. 28, the race's last two winners are set to clash with a second Connally title on the line. 

Spooky Channel, winner of the 2021 edition of the Connally, is looking to build off of his successful return to the track after a 14-month hiatus as he recovered from a lesion on a tendon. 

Pulling away down the stretch in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds, Spooky Channel won by 2 1/4 lengths over English Tavern.

"He was training well so we decided to run him at Fair Grounds," said trainer Jason Barkley. "We had considered retiring him, but he had a huge comeback effort and came out of the race really well."

Meanwhile, last year's winner, Another Mystery, is looking to rebound following a sixth-place effort in the H. Allen Jerkens Handicap. This will be his third appearance in the 1 1/2-mile Connally. 

Due to the recent Equine Herpesvirus positive at Gulfstream Park, Sam Houston Race Park will restrict horses from shipping in from Florida until further notice. This will affect three entrants: 2020 runner-up Bemma's Boy, Kinenos, and Bay Street Money.

Rounding out the field are Devamani, Logical Myth, Portos, Risk Manager, Seductive U S A, Scarlet Fusion, and U S Navy Cross.

Entries: John B. Connally Turf Cup S. (G3T)

Sam Houston Race Park, Saturday, January 28, 2023, Race 10

• Grade IIIT
• 1 1/2m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:55 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Scarlet Fusion (KY)	Adam Beschizza	120	Joe Sharp	8/1
2	2Kinenos (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	116	Michael J. Maker	15/1
3	3Portos (KY)	Lane J. Luzzi	116	Ron Faucheux	20/1
4	4Devamani (FR)	Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez	116	Karl Broberg	30/1
5	5Bemma's Boy (KY)	Reylu Gutierrez	116	Michael J. Maker	7/2
6	6Logical Myth (KY)	Leandro D. Goncalves	116	Shawn H. Davis	15/1
7	7U S Navy Cross (KY)	Sahin Civaci	118	Karl Broberg	30/1
8	8Risk Manager (KY)	Weston Hamilton	120	Sarah Nicole Davidson	20/1
9	9Spooky Channel (KY)	James Graham	123	Jason Barkley	5/2
10	10Another Mystery (IL)	Jareth Loveberry	123	Chris M. Block	9/2
11	11Seductive U S A (KY)	Rodolfo Guerra	118	Cesar Govea	30/1
12	12Bay Street Money (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	120	Michael J. Maker	6/1