Spooky Channel tops stakes-level field in Churchill allowance

Spooky Channel, a 5-year-old gelding who made the grade back in January, beat a graded stakes-quality field Saturday in an allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs.

The son of English Channel flew up just in time under jockey Julien Leparoux to best 11 rivals going 1 1/16 miles over the Churchill turf. It was the gelding’s second win in four starts this year, having also scored in the W.L. McKnight Stakes (G3) on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.

Mr. Misunderstood, a winner of four graded stakes under the Twin Spires, garnered 7-2 favoritism. Caribou Club, English Bee and First Premio were among the other stakes winners racing Saturday in a prep for Churchill’s $200,000 Wise Dan (G2) on June 20.

Off from the No. 1 post at 8-1 odds, Leparoux settled Spooky Channel along the hedge in mid-pack as Mick’s Star set opening fractions of :23.47. and :47.57.

As a compact field hit the far turn, jockey Jose Ortiz sent Parlor on a hard charge from the outside. That one came five-wide and surged to the lead by the top of the stretch.

Parlor was two lengths in front with a furlong to go as Spooky Channel geared up. Under a left-hand urging from Leparoux, Spooky Channel flew past Parlor to his outside, getting up to win by a half-length.

Spooky Channel covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.57 and returned $18. Hembree came home third behind the top two.

Brian Lynch trains Spooky Channel, a Kentucky-bred owned by Terry Hamilton. After making his first eight starts at Turf Paradise, the gelding has raced on more prominent circuits over the last year and looms as one to watch in the male turf division this summer.