Spooky Channel rallies to win Muniz Memorial

Despite being forced to close into a slow pace, Spooky Channel got the jump on the unlikely front runner Rising Empire in the final stages to win the $300,000 Muniz Memorial (G2) presented by Horse Racing Nation. With the late vet scratch of the 2022 Muniz winner Two Emmys, nine older males entered the gates.

The 8-year-old son of English Channel is trained by Jason Barkley and owned by NBS Stable. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Spooky Channel covered the 1 1/8 miles across the firm Stall-Wilson turf course in 1.54.11. The rail position on the turf was moved in from 34 to 28 feet.

“He left out of there really well,” Rosario said. “He likes to follow another horse, and he has a solid turn of foot. He knows his job, and he likes to pass horses. He sees a horse in front of him and he wants to come and get them. I just wanted to take my time with him, and when it was the right time to go, then go.”

The scratch of Two Emmys left onlookers wondering who would take the early initiative in a race full of closers. Making his third turf start, Rising Empire went to the front and poked through the fractions in 24.55 and 51.14 seconds. Odds-on favorite Atone stalked along the inside in third. Settling near the back, Rosario positioned Spooky Channel two wide, biding his time to tip out and make his late bid. Gentle Soul likewise came late from off the pace. As they both had Rising Empire measured up it was Spooky Channel who roared in the final stages to collar and clear the front runner, as Gentle Soul came up short but held on for third.

#5 SPOOKY CHANNEL on the outside! @JRosarioJockey turns the English Channel gelding loose in the stretch to win the ?? Muniz Memorial Classic (GIII) for trainer @jbark131 and owner NBS Stable.

The Fair Grounds Oaks is up next! Watch it on #FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/3mAtsvgCSL

— TVG (@TVG) March 25, 2023

“This horse will always be special to me,” Barkley said. “He gave me my first stakes win, my first graded-stakes win, he took a year off and came back with a stakes win. A lot of firsts for us. He’s a fun horse to have in the barn and one we will always remember.”

Spooky Channel was well-backed in the wagering and returned $9.20, $5.40, and $3.60.

Another Mystery finished in fourth. Completing the order of finish English Tavern, Risk Manager, Tiz the Bomb, Native Thunder, and the 4-5 favorite Atone, who won the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park last out, finished last.