Secretariat

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike), widely considered the best three-year-old
grass horse in America, should prove hard to deny in Saturday’s
$400,000 Secretariat S. (G1). The 1 1/4-mile Secretariat is the last of the
three International Festival of Racing turf events at Arlington Park, and should
English Channel get his picture taken, he will be three-quarters of the way home
toward a $5 million bonus. To win the bonus (which includes purse earnings),
English Channel must win the Secretariat and the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on
October 29 at Belmont Park.

English Channel, who represents the potent combination of trainer Todd
Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez, has displayed a powerful late turn of foot
that has carried him to victory in five of six career starts. In his last two
starts at Colonial Downs, the chestnut won the $750,000 Virginia Derby (G3) at
this distance over yielding ground and the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup S. at 1
3/16 miles on firm turf. English
Channel has excellent tactical speed and figures to get a ground-saving trip. He
easily rates our top choice at short odds.

GUN SALUTE (Military) and PURIM (Dynaformer) finished first and second, with
only a nose between them, respectively, in the 1 3/16-mile American Derby (G2) last
out. The former will likely come running from midpack, while the latter figures
to be on or near the early pace. Gun Salute finished a close third in the
Jefferson Cup S. (G3) at Churchill Downs and won the Forerunner S. at Keeneland,
while Purim is a nose shy of being undefeated in four career starts. These two
are hard to separate.

At 15-1 on the morning line, LEGAL PRECEDENT (Theatrical [Ire]) rates our
longshot special for the exotics. The Ben Cecil trainee finished a good second
to Becrux (Ity) (Glen Jordan) in the first division of the Oceanside S. at Del
Mar in his most recent outing. The bay won his first two starts going long on
the grass at Hollywood Park under Alex Solis, who returns in the saddle.
CHATTAHOOCHEE WAR (War Chant) set the early pace and then held on well for
runner-up honors in the Virginia Derby. The Bobby Frankel trainee could try
similar tactics here under Pat Valenzuela and must be considered for a share.

Irish import MERGER (Mr. Greeley) was close turning for home before fading to
a well-beaten sixth in the American Derby. The Dermot Weld trainee adds blinkers
and stayed stateside for this. He could improve and earn a part. Group 2-placed
GRAND CENTRAL (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) adds Lasix and blinkers for his U.S. bow and has
some sleeper potential under Kieren Fallon. This will be his last start for
owners Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor as he was sold to the Hong Kong
Jockey Club earlier this week. He is worth a second look. EMBOSSED
(Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) closed belatedly from well back against allowance
sorts over this course in his sophomore and American debut last out. He would be a
surprise for all the marbles.