Pegasus World Cup Turf Odds, Contender Profile: Channel Cat

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).

Pegasus World Cup Turf Post Positions
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

Find more Pegasus World Cup 2020 and Pegasus World Cup Turf 2020 Contenders Profile here:

Spun to Run

Math Wizard

Higher Power

Channel Cat

Seeking the Soul

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