Arklow nabs Channel Maker in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
Arklow, who hadn’t finished worse than fourth in the last year, but also hadn’t been to the winner’s circle since September of 2018, broke through at the right time Saturday to earn a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Having raced close throughout the back half of the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, Arklow nudged past defending winner Channel Maker to win by a half-length, receiving the race’s “Win and You’re In” bid.
A year ago, Arklow outperformed almost all of his domestic counterparts when running fourth behind dueling Europeans Enable and Magical in the Turf. Now, the Brad Cox-trainee has a free trip to try and do a few better on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park.
"It's been a long journey to get there, but he finally got it done," said Dustin Dugas, assistant trainer for Cox. "He's had enough seconds in a row. He's a cool horse. He's a hard knocker for all of us. It's fun.
Behind Channel Maker, Sadler’s Joy ran third and Channel Cat fourth.
Channel Maker posted fractions of 25.14, 50.85 and 1:13.16 to open the race. That left him enough in reserve to nearly hang on. The winner, a Brad Cox-trained 5-year-old by Arch, finished up in 2:27.34 under jockey Junior Alvarado. Arklow paid $10.00 for his first Grade 1 win.
"Coming to the wire the first time, I'm sensing this is a (slow) pace," Alvarado said. "I saw a lot of grabbing. I was like, you know what, I'd rather lose a little ground right here. Don't get in his way."
Arklow ranged up to be third, running along the outside, up the back stretch to set up his winning drive.
Arklow is a 5-year-old horse owned by Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger and Conewa. He had hit the board in four straight graded stakes before finally breaking through in the Joe Hirsch.
Arklow was second, beaten a neck in both the Man o' War (G1) and Belmont Gold Cup (G2) during the Belmont winter-spring meet and was just a half-length back of Channel Cat in the Bowling Green (G2) at Saratoga in July. Arklow, who was a $160,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase, entered off a runner-up finish in the Kentucky Turf Cup (G3).
He has now won six of 23 career starts with eight other on-the-board finishes for earnings in excess of $1.75 million.