Saturday’s $400,000 Secretariat S. (G1) wraps up Arlington’s International
Festival of Racing and has attracted possibly the best three-year-old turf horse
in America, ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike). The Todd Pletcher-trained colt has
rolled to convincing wins in the Virginia Derby (G3), Colonial Turf Cup S. and
Woodlawn S. in his last three starts and will make his first appearance in a
Grade 1 event in Saturday’s 10-furlong test. The chestnut colt breaks from the
rail with jockey John Velazquez.
GUN SALUTE (Military) and PURIM (Dynaformer), the 1-2 finishers in the
American Derby (G2), are his main rivals. The Bill Mott-trained Gun Salute
captured the Forerunner S. three starts back and finished a close third in the
Jefferson Cup (G3) before narrowly defeating Purim by a nose at Arlington last
out. Purim won the Arlington Classic (G2) two starts back and suffered his first
career setback in the American Derby.
English Channel, the 2-1 favorite on the morning line, has drawn the
innermost post. To his immediate outside in the starting gate is Purim, Mark
Guidry, 5-2; Gun Salute, Cornelio Velasquez, 3-1; GRAND CENTRAL (Ire) (Sadler’s
Wells), Kieren Fallon, 10-1; LEGAL PRECEDENT (Theatrical [Ire]), Alex Solis,
15-1; MERGER (Mr. Greeley), Darryl Holland, 15-1; CHATTAHOOCHEE WAR (War Chant),
Pat Valenzuela, 5-1; and EMBOSSED (Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), Edgar Prado,
30-1.