Pegasus World Cup Turf Odds and Post Positions
Channel Cat – Photo courtesy of NYRA
Channel Cat is one of those turf marathoners you always must consider betting but who doesn’t inspire much confidence. He’s 0-for-5 at the Grade 1 level, including an uncompetitive seventh in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).
And now here he is again, a 10-1 shot in Saturday’s $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park.
For the past two years I’ve considered him one of “the usual suspects” in long-distance grass stakes, along with Arklow, Sadler’s Joy, Henley’s Joy, Hunter O’Riley and Zulu Alpha. None stands out, and if you can project the pace scenario and who is likely to get the best trip, you may isolate the winner, usually at a nice price.
Channel Cat prepped for the World Cup Turf last month with a third-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Fort Lauderdale (G2) on the grass. His only win in eight starts last year was a front-running upset in the 1 3/8-mile, Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga.
Channel Cat
Odds:10-1
Post position: No. 5
Jockey: John Velazquez
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Calumet Farm
Career record: 20-5-2-5
Career earnings: $913,992
Pedigree: English Channel-Carnival Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy
Age: 5
Running style: Speed/Stalker
Handicapping insights:
“Seven losses in his last eight starts and a four-race losing streak don’t inspire confidence. Channel Cat is much more likely to be third or fourth than to win.’’ — Ed McNamara
“Keeps good company but falls short falls short against top-caliber competition and lacks consistency … lost local prep (Fort Lauderdale) when beaten by Instilled Regard.’’ – Noel Michaels
Notes: Pletcher’s take: “He’s run against the best horses on the East Coast all year and has certainly shown that on his day, he fits with the best of them.” … You may be surprised to hear that future Hall of Famer Pletcher won only two Grade 1 stakes last year, neither on the turf. (Vino Rosso won the BC Classic and the Santa Anita Gold Cup).
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zulu Alpha | Tyler Gaffalione | Michael Maker | 12-1 |
| 2 | Arklow | Luis Saez | Brad Cox | 6-1 |
| 3 | Without Parole | Frankie Dettori | Chad Brown | 4-1 |
| 4 | Sadler’s Joy | Javier Castellano | Tom Albertrani | 8-1 |
| 5 | Channel Cat | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | 10-1 |
| 6 | Instilled Regard | N/A | Chad Brown | 10-1 |
| 7 | Admission Office | Jose L. Ortiz | Brian Lynch | 30-1 |
| 8 | Henley’s Joy | Julien Leparoux | Michael Maker | 30-1 |
| 9 | Next Shares | Jose Valdivia, Jr. | Richard Baltas | 30-1 |
| 10 | Mo Forza | Joel Rosario | Pete Miller | 5-1 |
| 11 | Sacred Life | N/A | Chad Brown | 12-1 |
| 12 | Magic Wand | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien | 7-2 |
For more information/tickets: PegasusWorldCup.com