FRANKLIN, Ky. – Channel Cat has the right connections to win Saturday at Kentucky Downs, and, moreover, he’s at a physical peak. The 6-year-old, who became a Grade 1 winner this year, is one of a handful of contenders in a wide-open renewal of the $1 million Calumet Turf Cup, a 1 1/2-mile race sponsored by his owner-breeder, the legendary Calumet Farm. Three years ago, Channel Cat captured the Dueling Grounds Derby while trained by Todd Pletcher in his only start at this turf-only track. Transferred last year into the care of Calumet’s main trainer Jack Sisterson, the son of English Channel has maintained high-end form, most notably when he led most of the way to win the Grade 1 Man o’ War on May 8 at Belmont Park. Similar front-end tactics would seem to be in order Saturday when John Velazquez climbs aboard Channel Cat for the Grade 2 Turf Cup, the signature race of the six-day Kentucky Downs meet. There’s not much other early speed in opposition, and Channel Cat might well find himself playing cat-and-mouse with Tide of the Sea while they show the way in the full field of 12 3-year-olds and up. The purse for the Turf Cup, a Win and You’re In qualifier for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, includes $450,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Thirteen of the 16 entered are Kentucky-breds, the exceptions being Imperador, Fantasioso, and Breakpoint. Channel Cat “shipped back down from Saratoga in great shape,” said Sisterson. “He’s done most of his work on the Oklahoma turf course and has done everything right. From a training, physical, energy, and appetite standpoint, he checks all the boxes.” Channel Cat will break from post 3, with Tide of the Sea and jockey Luis Saez right alongside in post 4. This 30th running of the Turf Cup would have marked the 11th meeting between Arklow and Zulu Alpha, who between them have swept the last three runnings and amassed more than $5 million in combined earnings. Arklow won in 2018 and 2020, with Zulu Alpha prevailing in 2019. In their 10 prior clashes, each finished ahead of the other five times. However, Zulu Alpha was scratched by owner Michael Hui and was retired Friday. He will be sent to spend his retirement at Old Friends. The question for Arklow is whether he can rebound here off a couple of dull races apiece. Arklow, now 7, was no factor in the United Nations or Del Mar Handicap. :: Get DRF's free 2021 Kentucky Downs Player's Guide Mike Maker, the all-time leader in every major training category at Kentucky Downs, has won four of the last six runnings of the Turf Cup, with Da Big Hoss (2015-16), Oscar Nominated (2017), and Zulu Alpha. Even with Zulu Alpha's scratch, he has five other entries in here – Tide of the Sea; longshots Bluegrass Parkway, Ajourneytofreedom, and Glynn County; plus also-eligible Dynadrive. Irad Ortiz Jr., the reigning three-time Eclipse champion who rode two winners here Wednesday in his first day of action at the meet, will be aboard Ajourneytofreedom from post 8. A couple of star jockeys from California also have long-priced mounts, with Flavien Prat on Crossfirehurricane (post 2) and Umberto Rispoli on Fantasioso (post 7). Big win mutuels are a part of Turf Cup history, topped by Rumor Has It paying $121.20 in 2008. Embossed paid $71.60 in 2006 and Rezif returned $38.80 in 2010. The Turf Cup is the ninth of 11 races and the fourth of five straight stakes on a sensational Saturday card that starts at 12:20 p.m. Central. Post time for the feature is 4:44. The other stakes are the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint (race 6), Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (race 7), Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (race 8), and the Franklin-Simpson Stakes (race 10). Sunny skies and a high of 84 are in the local forecast. TVG will provide extensive coverage throughout the day. The meet ends Sunday with 10 races. Churchill Downs, which opened its stable area this week following a nine-week hiatus for a turf-course renovation, starts a 12-day dirt-only meet Thursday. The Saturday card leads off the meet’s last two-day King of the Turf handicapping contest, sponsored by Daily Racing Form. Full details are available on the track website, kentuckydowns.com. ◗ Jockey Jose Ortiz took off all his mounts Wednesday and will be sidelined indefinitely after testing positive for COVID-19. His agent, Jimmy Riccio, said Ortiz is resting comfortably. Ortiz had been named to ride eight races here Saturday.