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Channel Cat lands Man O’War Stakes at Belmont
The Jack Sisterson-trained Channel Cat (6 h ex Carnival Kitten by Kitten's Joy) added a the Man O’War Stakes (Gr 1, 11f) to his record at Belmont Park on Saturday and in the process became the ninth top-flight winner for his sire English Channel (Smart Strike).
Recording his first victory since his win in the Bowling Green Stakes (Gr 2, 11f) in 2019, the six-year-old stayed on gamely under pressure to beat Gufo (Declaration Of War) by a nose, while Moon Over Miami (Malibu Moon) was a further neck away in third.
"He was coming into the race in great shape," said Sisterson. "He ran a great race in the Elkhorn off the layoff and finished up good, closing into fast fractions.
"Thanks to Channel Cat and the staff back at the barn, who do all the hard work to win a Grade 1. I don't take any credit for this. It's all due to the people behind the scenes that people don't see."
The trainer is now considering a tilt in the Manhattan Stakes (Gr 1,10f) on June 5 or the United Nations Stakes (Gr 1, 11f) at Monmouth Park on July 17 for Channel Cat's next start.
The six-year-old is one of two out of winning Kitten’s Joy (El Prado) mare Carnival Kitten and she is herself a half-sister to Listed winner Red Moloney (Sahm).
Further back this is the same pedigree as Grade 1 winner Lieutenant's Lark (Lt Stevens), Grade 3 scorers Dove Hunt (Danzig) and Down The Flag (Stalwart) as well as Listed-winning pair Rio’s Lark (Rio Carmelo) and Sea Lark (North Sea).
English Channel stands at Calumet Farm and commanded a fee of US$27,500 in 2021.
Meanwhile also at Belmont on Saturday, the Todd Pletcher-trained Promise Keeper (3 c ex Mira Alta by Curlin) landed the Peter Pan Stakes (Gr 3, 9f) and in doing so handed his WinStar Farm-based sire Constitution (Tapit) with his 20th stakes winner.
Purchased by Woodford Thoroughbreds for US$160,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2019, the colt is out of Mira Alta (Curlin) making him a half-brother to Listed winner Wicked Awesome (Awesome Again), while Mira Alta herself is a three-quarter sister to the multiple Grade 1-winning champion Stellar Wind.
Constitution’s 20 stakes winners are headed by Grade 1 scorers, Tiz The Law, Breakpoint, First Constitution and Alaskan Queen and he stood the 2021 season for a fee of US$85,000.