Son of English Channel won second edition of grade 1 he also took in 2018.
The classy Channel Maker, making his fourth appearance in the $250,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park, won the race for a second time with a frontrunning victory.
Owned by Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Channel Maker was ridden to victory by jockey Manny Franco.
A 6-year-old gelded son of English Channel , the Bill Mott-trained Channel Maker won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in 2018. He finished second in the race last year to Arklow and was sixth in 2017.
When the gates opened for the 1 1/2-mile event, Channel Maker sprung to the early lead while racing off the hedge on the Widener turf course. The pacesetter was joined by Cross Border to his outside, but Channel Maker, who was running comfortably, never relinquished his lead while setting fractions of :22.89, :49.44, 1:14.45, 1:38.20, and 2:01.98. The final time on the firm course was 2:25.99.
Continue Reading at BLOODHORSE