Channel Maker battled through a contested pace to graduate in style in Sunday’s $150,800 Vandal Stakes, at Woodbine.

Trained by Dan Vella for owner Joey Gee Thoroughbreds, the English Channel chestnut arrived at the Vandal from a determined third-place run, behind Vandal rivals Fleetway and Woodbridge, in a six furlong maiden turf allowance on July 24.

With Luis Contreras aboard for the first time in Sunday’s 6 1/2-furlong turf event for Ontario-bred juveniles, Channel Maker, with blinkers on, broke well and won a battle for the lead while marking off splits of :23.62 and :47.46 under pressure from Rare Appeal, Jurojin, Fleetway and State of Honor.

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