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Surging English Channel sets course record in United Nations James T. Scatuorchio's ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike) wasn't content with merely retaining his crown in Saturday's $742,500 United Nations S. (G1) at Monmouth Park. While powering to a one-length victory over his stablemate Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval), the Todd Pletcher charge set a new course mark of 2:12 4/5 for 1 3/8 miles on the firm turf. As expected, 33-1 longshot Fri Guy (Theatrical [Ire]) carved out a tepid pace of :25 3/5, :49 4/5, 1:14 2/5 and 1:38 1/5. English Channel was his usual rank self early, but he eventually settled into a tracking second. Honey Ryder and Embossed (Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) raced in tandem in the next flight, with Better Talk Now (Talkin Man) a detached last in the five-horse field. Turning for home, English Channel confronted the early leader and swept past him in the stretch. Honey Ryder chased valiantly, but she couldn't get any nearer than a length at the wire. Justifying his 3-5 favoritism, English Channel gave back $3.20, $2.10 and $2.10 while keying exotics worth $9.40 (exacta) and $10.80 (1-5-2 trifecta). The 3-1 Honey Ryder returned $2.40 and $2.10. Better Talk Now closed belatedly for third, another two lengths astern, to furnish $2.10 at 5-2. Fri Guy just missed the show spot by a neck, and Embossed finished a close fifth. English Channel now boasts eight career stakes scores, four of them at the Grade 1 level. In addition to his two United Nations trophies, he also claims victories in the 2006 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1), Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. (G1) and Canadian Turf H. As a sophomore in 2005, the chestnut captured the Virginia Derby (G3), Colonial Turf Cup S. and Woodlawn S. He has placed in four other Grade 1 contests, including last year's Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) and the Manhattan H. (G1) last time out. English Channel's mark stands at 20-11-3-1 with $3,239,028 in lifetime earnings. Bred by Keene Ridge Farm in Kentucky, the winner was sold to his present owner for $50,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The five-year-old is the first registered foal from the unraced Belva (Theatrical [Ire]), making him a full brother to Lane's End S. (G2) runner-up Sedgefield, last seen finishing a commendable fifth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He has three half-sisters -- an unraced juvenile named Lura (Street Cry [Ire]), an unnamed yearling by Aldebaran and a 2007 foal by Ghostzapper. Belva is herself a full sister to Grade 1 winner Pharma and multiple Grade 2 winner Hap, all of them out of Committed (Hagley), a European champion and multiple Group 1-winning sprinter in 1984-85.
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