Splitting rivals down the stretch, Channel Lady overtook front running Welcome Dance and Appealing Cat to win the $100,000 Edward P. Evans All Along Stakes (gr. IIIT) June 22 at Colonial Downs.
After a slight bump at the break, Javier Castellano kept the 4-year-old Todd Pletcher trainee sitting comfortably behind the pace in third for most of the 1 1/8-mile turf contest. Riding contently in the field of seven older fillies and mares, they saved ground until making their move in the stretch. Taking the lead under a firm drive approaching the furlong mark, Channel Lady secured a one-length victory in a time of 1:50.34 over firm ground.
Owned by James Scatuorchio and Jake Pletcher, Channel Lady was bred in Kentucky by Kaygar Stable, Wayne Morris, Bluegrass Hall, and Scatuorchio.
It was Welcome Dance setting the pace, with 17-10 favorite Appealing Cat keeping close in second, setting fractions of 24.43, 49.22, 1:13.78, and 1:38.01. Channel Lady stayed steady in third, with contenders Adjacent and Idle Talk holding position behind her in fourth and fifth. Castellano found a seam between the two frontrunners and guided his charge through in a strong push for the finish.
First or second in all but two of her eight turf starts—she won the Suwanee River Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 9—the English Channel filly was second choice in the All Along, sent off at 9-5 odds.
Idle Talk, at 26-1, and jockey Horacio Karamanos rallied to finish second. Jockey Sheldon Russell on 12-1 Clare Skies Ahead angled wide in the stretch and hit the board for third, three lengths behind the winner after trailing for most of the race. Embarr was fourth with Appealing Cat fading to fifth and Adjacent sixth. Pacesetter Welcome Dance tired, finishing last.
Channel Lady returned $5.60, $3.20, and $2.60. Idle Talk, the longest shot in the field paid $15 and $5.20, while Clare Skies Ahead paid out $5 for the show. The exacta paid $151.80, while the trifecta was worth $809.
The All Along win adds $58,800 to Channel Lady's earnings, which now equal $338,910. The turf-loving filly, out of the King of Kings mare Queen Supreme, now holds a record of 5-2-0 from her nine starts.
