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English Channel churns out Woodford Reserve
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English Channel (inside) gutted out a victory in the Woodford
(Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com) |
James T. Scatuorchio's ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike) summoned up all his
courage to score his first Grade 1 victory in Saturday's $454,900
Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. at Churchill Downs. Rating just in behind
the pace through splits of :24 3/5, :48 1/5 and 1:12, Garrett Gomez sent his
mount after the leading Cool Conductor (Stravinsky) entering the stretch.
English Channel knuckled down to his task, worked hard to gain the lead inside
the final furlong and was then confronted by a looming Cacique (Ire) (Danehill),
but the brave Todd Pletcher charge kept finding more to hold his rival at bay by
a half-length at the wire. After stopping the teletimer in a snappy 1:47 for the
nine furlongs on the firm turf, the winner paid $9, $4.20 and $3 as the second
choice at 7-2."I got banged around a little bit in the first turn," Gomez
said. "He's not very big, and it takes a lot out of the horse. His heart
makes three of him. He's a talented horse, and he's got a huge heart."
Cacique, the 2-1 favorite, gave back $3.60 and $3 for finishing
three-quarters of a length ahead of Milk It Mick (GB) (Millkom [GB]) in third,
who returned $4.40 at 8-1. The exacta yielded $27, while the trifecta was worth
$185. Another nose back in fourth came the 15-1 Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck) to
end the $1,573 superfecta (9-3-4-6).
The filly Gorella (Fr) (Grape Tree Road [GB]) bested Cool Conductor in a
photo-finish for fifth. Good Reward (Storm Cat), Honor in War (Lord at War [Arg]),
Silver Tree (Hennessy) and Perfect Drift (Dynaformer) completed the order of
finish. Fort Prado (El Prado [Ire]) was scratched.
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English Channel's career scoreline now reads 11-7-2-0, and his bankroll has
swelled to $1,499,028. In his previous start, he captured the Canadian Turf H.
at Gulfstream Park and, as a sophomore in 2005, he garnered the Virginia Derby
(G3), Colonial Turf Cup S. and Woodlawn S. to go along with placed efforts in
the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. (G1) and Secretariat S. (G1).
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
four-year-old chestnut is the first registered foal from the unraced Belva (Theatrical
[Ire]), who has also produced an unraced two-year-old full brother to English
Channel, Sedgefield, and an unnamed yearling filly by Street Cry (Ire). 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.
For his next engagement, Pletcher said that English Channel will target the
June 10 Manhattan H. (G1) at Belmont Park.
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