Channel Cat walks the dog in upsetting Saratoga's Bowling Green

Channel Cat took advantage of what appeared a paceless renewal of the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes, going all the way to win Saturday's 1 3/8-mile race on Saratoga's inner turf.

The son of English Channel scored at odds of 13-1 under jockey Luis Saez, who asked his 4-year-old mount at all the right times. Channel Cat also ran without blinkers, and the colt seeing his competition may have made a difference as well.

"When we got to the stretch, he responded," Saez said.

Channel Cat sprinted out of the gate and led by three lengths the first time under the wire. Along the back stretch, Argonne erased that advantage, only to see Channel Cat kick on. Off the far turn, Chad Brown’s Chilean import, Ya Primo, cut through on the hedge while favored Channel Maker challenged on the outside.

Again, Channel Cat drove ahead, able to see his competition and respond.

The final time was 2:14.43 after opening fractions of 24.66 and 49.87, with the mile in 1:39.14.

"Weel feel like he's getting better and better," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "It wasn't necessarily the strategy to be on the lead, but we did want to get away from the outside post and get a forward position.

"He just caught such a smooth break and got there in such a relaxed, comfortable fashion. I give Luis a lot of credit for taking the initiative."

Behind Calumet Farm’s Channel Cat, Ya Primo leveled off for second, while Arklow closed for third in the field of 12 older horses.

Channel Cat was making his fourth start of the season and registered his first graded stakes victory. At age 3, the homebred won both Kentucky Downs' Dueling Grounds Derby and Laurel Park's Bald Eagle Derby to finish his season on a high note.

From here, Pletcher said it could be on to the Grade 1, $850,000 Sword Dancer on Aug. 24, Travers day.