“Thank you Channel Maker, you hold your head up high but I think you’re just looking for the winner’s circle” – Adam Wachtel, co-owner of Champion Turf Male 2020, Channel Maker
He’s come a long way since his maiden win in the 2016 Vandal Stakes at Woodbine.
CHANNEL MAKER, foaled in Ontario and bred by Ivan Dalos’ Tall Oaks Farm, was named America’s 2020 Champion Turf Male on Thursday evening during the Virtual Eclipse Awards, the 50th awards ceremony.
The Eclipse Awards, like most events in the past year, had to be broadcast virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the NTRA event was broadcast throughout many channels on Thursday evening.
The Horse of the Year honor went to AUTHENTIC, the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner, who was also named Champion 3-Year-Old Male.
As the only North American older male turf horse to win two Grade 1 stakes races during the season, Channel Maker had one of the best seasons of his career as a 7-year-old.
Raced by Wachtel Stable, R.A. Hill Racing, Reeves Racing and Gary Barber and trained by Bill Mott, Channel Maker followed up his wins in the Sword Dancer on soft turf at Saratoga and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on firm turf at Belmont with a super third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland.
Those last three outings of 2020 for the son of English Channel – In Return by Horse Chestnut (SAf) each earned him Beyer Figures of 108, the highest of his career.
His 2020 earnings of $829,443 pushed his career earnings to $2.99 million from 7 wins in 37 races.
Channel Maker beat out Zulu Alpha and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Order of Australia for the Eclipse. The number of first-place votes in the category were: Channel Maker, 180; Zulu Alpha, 17; Order of Australia, 15; Factor This, 7; United, 7; Gufo, 4; Domestic Spending (GB), 3; Arklow, 2; War of Will, 1; Voter Abstentions, 2
Channel Maker is the first Canadian/Ontario-bred to win an Eclipse Award since 2014 when Judy the Beauty was named Champion Female Sprinter
“He gives you something,” Mott said. “Sometimes he doesn’t get the right set of circumstances, but you could say that about most other horses. When he gets the right circumstances, he’s tough.”
Channel Maker has always had his unusual running style, carrying his head higher than most horses during his races.
He began his career with owner Joey Gee Thoroughbreds and trainer Dan Vella. Joey Gee’s Joe Guerrieri sold 50% in the gelding before his run in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
As a 3-year-old, Channel Maker won the Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine and was named Champion 3-year-old in Canada.
Reeves and Hill joined the horse’s ownership in 2018 while Guerrieri sold his share.
Channel Maker’s dam IN RETURN is an Outstanding Broodmare Sovereign Award winner for Dalos.
NYRA photo
ECLIPSE AWARD WINNERS with first-place votes indicated
Horse of the Year
Voting: Authentic, 224; Monomoy Girl, 7; Swiss Skydiver, 6; Vekoma, 1.
Older Dirt Male: Improbable
Voting: Improbable, 218; Knicks Go, 8, Vekoma, 5; Maximum Security, 4; Global Campaign, 1; Tom’s d’Etat, 1; Whitmore, 1.
Older Dirt Female: Monomoy Girl
Voting: Monomoy Girl, 234; Midnight Bisou, 4.
Owner: Godolphin LLC
Voting: Godolphin LLC, 78; Spendthrift Farm, LLC, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Starlight Racing, 56; Klaravich Stables Inc., 47; Gary Barber, 23; Sackatoga Stables, 7; End Zone Athletics Inc., 6; Peter Callahan, 4; Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, LLC, The Elkstone Group LLC, and Bethlehem Stables, 3; Calumet Farm, 1; Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, 1; M and M Racing, 1; Maggi Moss, 1; Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey 1; Gary and Mary West, 1; Voter Abstentions, 8.
Trainer: Brad Cox
Voting: Brad Cox, 106; Bob Baffert, 69; Steve Asmussen, 44; Chad Brown, 8; Christophe Clement, 1; Michael Maker, 1; Peter Miller, 1; Ron Moquett, 1; Bill Mott, 1; Barclay Tagg, 1; Wesley Ward, 1; Voter Abstentions, 4.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Voting: Irad Ortiz, Jr., 162; Joel Rosario, 54; John Velazquez, 14; Florent Geroux, 3; Tyler Gaffalione, 2; Flavien Prat, 1; Luis Saez, 1; Voter Abstention, 1.
2-year old male: Essential Quality
Voting: Essential Quality, 231; Jackie’s Warrior, 6; Fire At Will, 1.
2-year old filly: Vequist
Voting: Vequist, 212; Aunt Pearl, 24; Malathaat, 1; Voter Abstention, 1.
Apprentice jockey: Alexander Crispin
Voting: Alexander Crispin, 79; Yarmarie Correa, 74; Luis Cardenas, 38; Charlie Marquez, 15; Cristian Torres, 3; Sunday Diaz, Jr. 1; Voter Abstentions, 28.
3-year old filly: Swiss Skydiver
Voting: Swiss Skydiver, 218, Gamine, 20.
3-year old male: Authentic
Voting: Authentic, 236; Tiz the Law, 2.
Breeder: WinStar Farm LLC
Voting: WinStar Farm LLC, 128; Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC, 52; Calumet Farm, 45; Godolphin, 6; Charles Fipke, 1; Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, 1; Voter Abstentions, 5.
Male Sprinter: Whitmore
Voting: Whitmore, 132; Vekoma, 83; Volatile, 16; Charlatan, 4; C Z Rocket, 3.
Female Sprinter: Gamine
Voting: Gamine, 219; Serengeti Empress, 13; Frank’s Rockette, 4; Guarana, 1; Voter Abstention, 1.
Steeplechase: Moscato
Voting: Moscato (GB), 155; Snap Decision, 28; Rashaan (IRE), 21; Iranistan,2; Voter Abstentions, 32.
Turf Female: Rushing Fall
Voting: Rushing Fall, 115; Tarnawa (IRE), 106; Magical (IRE), 8; Audarya (FR), 5; Starship Jubilee, 2; Newspaperofrecord (IRE) 1; Sharing, 1.
Turf Male: Channel Maker
Voting: Channel Maker, 180; Zulu Alpha, 17; Order of Australia (IRE), 15; Factor This, 7; United, 7; Gufo, 4; Domestic Spending (GB), 3; Arklow, 2; War of Will, 1; Voter Abstentions, 2.
*The tallies above represent first-place votes only.
More from Horses:
