Trainer Danny Vella, jockey Richard Grubb and horses Starship Jubilee and Channel Maker make up the class of 2024.
Channel Maker
Bred by Ivan Dalos' Tall Oaks Farm, the durable gelding was a Canadian and US Champion and a multiple Grade 1 winner.
"Having him as a 2-year-old, 3-year-old, and now a 9-year-old. Who does that? Bill does that. It's a special win for all of us." - Adam Wachtel
The 9-year-old is one of the richest horses ever foaled in Canada and the multiple champion looks to repeat in the Elkhorn
The Pegasus World Cup will headline a stellar 13-race program with a total of eight stakes being contested for $5.3 million in purses.
The richest active Canadian-bred and third on the all-time leading earners foaled in this country could race at age 9.
It is shaping up to be an exciting two days of world-class racing, with several Canadian hopefuls vying for the rich purses.
The 'Midsummer Derby' has lured a trio of Chad Brown sophomores taking on Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) winner Epicenter.
Also at Keeneland, two-time Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart runs out of gas and finishes sixth in the Grade 3 Ben Ali.
The penultimate day of racing at the Keeneland spring meet also features the return of Ontario-bred multi-millionaire Channel Maker.
The nineteen-year-old son of Canadian star Smart Strike became ill on November 9 at Calumet Farm and died Nov. 11.
John Gosden-trained Mishriff (Ire) powered past fast US colt Charlatan to win the 2nd Saudi Cup (G1) in Riyadh.
The Feb. 20 Saudi Cup day of racing includes the Neom Turf Cup with Canadian-bred Channel Maker; card begins 8 a.m.
Eclipse award winner Channel Maker is on the other side of the world to compete in the $1 million Neon Turf.
Bred by Toronto's Ivan Dalos, Channel Maker won Champion Turf Male at the Jan. 28 Eclipse Awards thanks to two graded wins.
