Aaron previews the 2022 Sycamore Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, then gives his top picks and longshots. Arklow is among 3 millionaires (along with Channel Maker and Red Knight) in a deep and competitive field set to travel over the same course and distance as the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) in 3 weeks’ time. Tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!
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The track press release:
Champion Channel Make and fellow millionaires Arklow and Red Knight plus Grade 1 winner Highland Chief (IRE) headline a deep field of 12 plus four also-eligibles entered Sunday for Friday’s 28th running of the $300,000 Sycamore (G3) for 3-year-olds and up going 1½ miles on the turf.
The Sycamore will go as Friday’s ninth race with a 5:16 p.m. ET. First post on the 10-race program is 1 p.m.
Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s $3.6 million earner Channel Maker returns to Keeneland, where he won the Elkhorn (G2) in April in his 2022 debut. Trained by Bill Mott, Channel Maker is a four-time Grade 1 winner who finished third here in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).
Luis Saez, who was aboard for the victory in the Elkhorn, has the call Friday and will break from post six.
Donegal Racing and Joseph Bulger’s Arklow, a six-time graded stakes winner and earner of more than $3 million, will be looking to rebound from a sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 10. Trained by Brad Cox, Arklow will be ridden by Joel Rosario and break from post one.
Trinity Farm’s Red Knight, who achieved millionaire status with his victory over Arklow in the Kentucky Turf Cup, is trained by two-time Sycamore winner Mike Maker. Gerardo Corrales, who was aboard for the Kentucky Downs victory, has the call Friday and will break from post position two.
Mrs. Fitri Hay’s Highland Chief will attempt to give trainer Graham Motion his fourth victory in the Sycamore. Winner of the Man o’ War (G1) at Belmont in May, Highland Chief will be ridden by John Velazquez and break from post position four.
The field for the Sycamore, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Arklow (Rosario, 121 pounds), Red Knight (Corrales, 125), Admission Office (Brian Hernandez Jr., 121), Highland Chief (IRE) (Velazquez, 125), Accredit (Rafael Bejarano, 121), Channel Maker (Saez, 125), Mira Mission (Julien Leparoux, 121), Temple (Umberto Rispoli, 125), British Royalty (Ricardo Santana Jr., 121), Balthus (IRE) (Manny Franco, 121), Another Mystery (Florent Geroux, 123), Cellist (Corey Lanerie, 123). Also-Eligible: Highest Honors (Tyler Gaffalione, 121), Shawdyshawdyshawdy (Adam Beschizza, 121), Time for Trouble (Joe Talamo, 121), Keystone Field (Rey Gutierrez, 121).
