English Channel Squeezes Out Win
John Velazquez Jockeyed 5-Year-Old to 2nd Straight Joe Hirsch Title
In a squeeze play to the wire, jockey John Velazquez steered the Todd Pletcher 5-year-old trainee English Channel to his 12th win. Fabulous Strike captured the Vosburgh.
On the day's undercard at Belmont Park's Jockey Club Gold Cup day Sept. 30, John Velazquez squeezed to victory with English Channel in the $612,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes, a 1-1/2 miles event.
English Channel, a 5-year-old well-muscled chestnut like his half brother Lawyer Ron, was the race's overwhelming favorite, but found himself pinned to the rail with a wall of horses in front of him when Velazquez was ready to signal.
English Channel is known to be a bit hard to steer. He tends to bear out when he feels the urge, and Velazquez said later he wasn't excited about his prospects to ram through at the narrowest of openings at the rail. He yelled out a warning to Eibar Coa, he said, who was aboard Mission Approved in front of him near the rail, that he was committed to shoot through the tiny opening. Coa gave way just enough.
Pulling the rein far away from English Channel's head to the right as the chestnut tried to bear out left, Velazquez held firm and pointed his charge to the slight opportunity. Somehow, the directional came together, no contact ensued, and English Channel decided to trust his rider as he pushed to the opening and muscled his way through. In the clear, English Channel set about closing the deal. He fought off Stream of Gold in the last eighth, exploding to win by 2-1/4 lengths. He finished business in 2:25.73.
It was English Channel's second straight win in the Joe Hirsch Turf. The Smart Strike product will enter the Breeders' Cup Turf on October 27 in the world championships against two old hands, Better Talk Now and the ageless The Tin Man.
English Channel marked up his 12th win in 22 career starts. His earnings are at $3,699,028, and he has won $1 million a year in the last three seasons. He is owned by James Scatuorchio.
A third Smart Strike stakes winner, 4-year-old gelding Fabulous Strike, clawed his way into the Breeders' Cup Sprint with a flashy win over Godolphin Racing star Discreet Cat in the six furlong, $416,000 Vosburgh Stakes Sept. 30. He sailed to the win by 5-3/4 lengths under Ramon Dominguez.
Even though Discreet Cat's return from a six-month layoff was unsuccessful, he probably will join the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile October 26, said trainer Saeed bin Suroor. He indicated that the Dirt Mile would better suit Discreet Cat. The Godolphin star has been sideline since his first loss March 31 in the Dubai World Cup, victimized by a severe throat infection. Sunday's setback was just his second in eight career trips.
Pennsylvania-bred Fabulous Strike rebounded for his Vosburgh win from a bout with heat exhaustion after completing a four-race win streak. He owns 9 wins in 14 starts, with earnings of $632,832. Todd Beattie is his trainer.
The other Smart Strike colt qualified for Breeders' Cup day is Curlin.
