English Channel returns at Gulfstream Park

English Channel will make his five-year-old bow Thursday (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

Multiple Grade 1 hero ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike) will make his 2007 debut

on Thursday in the 7TH race at Gulfstream Park. The chestnut was last seen

finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs and was a

finalist to be named champion turf male at the Eclipse Award ceremony on January

22. He finished third on that day as well, receiving 11 fewer votes than

Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) hero Miesque's Approval (Miesque's Son) and six votes

less than Arlington Million (G1) victor The Tin Man (Affirmed).

The Todd Pletcher-trained five-year-old had been scheduled to go for a title

defense in the Canadian Turf H. (G3) on February 3, but missed some training

after coming down with an upper respiratory infection. Having bypassed the

Canadian Turf, English Channel was then considered likely for the Fair Grounds

Breeders' Cup H. (G2) just one week later, but skipped that one as well.

English Channel will face nine rivals as the 6-5 favorite in Thursday's 1

1/8-mile turf test. He could show up next in Dubai, for either the Dubai Duty

Free (UAE-G1) going nine grassy furlongs or the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) at

1 1/2 miles on Nad al Sheba's turf.

Among those the chestnut will face Thursday are two fellow Grade 1 winners.