Male turf division 2006 Eclipse Award finalist English Channel makes his 5-year-old debut for trainer Todd Pletcher in a nine-furlong allowance race on the Gulfstream Park program Thursday.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007Turf star English Channel and Triple Crown candidate Circular Quay, each a divisional Eclipse Award finalist last month, are expected to participate in Fair Grounds' five-stakes program Feb. 10.
Friday, February 02, 2007It comes as no surprise that trainer Todd Pletcher, a multiple record setter in 2006, will collect a third well-deserved Eclipse Award for his efforts.
Monday, January 22, 2007Red Rocks, rated far off an honest pace, rallied boldly in the stretch under Frankie Dettori to win the $2,748,000 John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) over fast-closing Better Talk Now.
Saturday, November 04, 2006European invader Hurricane Run, a multiple group I winner, drew the seven post position and was made the 3-1 morning line favorite for the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).
Wednesday, November 01, 2006Trainer Todd Pletcher is taking his record-breaking role of pre-entering 18 Breeders' Cup World Championship starters all in stride. Pletcher is expected to have at least one starter in seven of the eight championship day races, with the lone exception the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).
Wednesday, October 25, 2006It is safe to say there has never been more major stakes run and more major stars performing around the country than there were this past weekend. In the end, most of the Breeders' Cup World Championship races were clearly defined, but there was something missing in the aftermath of one of the races.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006English Channel got a dream trip behind slow fractions set by his stablemate and easily won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) Saturday, completing Todd Pletcher's assault on Belmont Park's "Super Saturday" card with the trainer's third grade I win.
Saturday, October 07, 2006English Channel, who ran fifth in last year's John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), has his final prep for this year's Breeders' Cup Saturday in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) at Belmont Park.
Thursday, October 05, 2006The NTRA National Pick 4 wager, offered in conjunction with "Emirates Airline Countdown to the Breeders' Cup" series installments airing on ESPN and ESPN2 through Oct. 14 will be available Oct. 7.
Thursday, October 05, 2006Todd Pletcher, the nation's reigning champion trainer, worked a number of his horses Sunday in preparation for grade I stakes appearances at Belmont Park Oct. 7.
Sunday, October 01, 2006The 8-year-old gelding The Tin Man had Saturday's Arlington Million (gr. IT) at his mercy, going gate to wire to defeat a powerful field on the Arlington Park turf.
Saturday, August 12, 2006James Scatuorchio's English Channel and Juddmonte Farms Inc.'s Cacique, never more than a half-length apart in three previous meetings, renew their rivalry in Saturday's 24th Arlington Million (gr. IT).
Thursday, August 10, 2006Bluegrass Cat, the runaway winner of yesterday's Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park, is already back in Saratoga Springs. Although it's hard to envision Bluegrass Cat skipping Saratoga's grade I, $1 million Travers, presented by New York Lottery on Aug. 26, the colt's trainer, Todd Pletcher, was non-committal Monday.
Monday, August 07, 2006English Channel came off the rail to grab the lead in mid-stretch, then stubbornly refused to give in to the determined Cacique in winning the $750,000 United Nations (gr. IT) on the sparkling new Monmouth Park turf course Saturday.
Saturday, July 08, 2006While New Jersey legislators and the governor close in on an agreement for the state budget that would allow racing at Monmouth Park this weekend, a field of seven was entered for the $750,000 United Nations (gr. IT) Saturday over 11 furlongs on the grass.
Thursday, July 06, 2006A full field of 14 horses is scheduled to start in the $1 million Colonial Turf Cup, the first leg of the $5 million Jacob Investments "Grand Slam of Grass." With a total of 17 entries, three horses are listed as also-eligible for the turf race for 3-year olds, should there be any defections.
Monday, June 19, 2006Juddmonte Farms' Cacique, who just missed by a half-length in his last start in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT), held off a hard-charging Relaxed Gesture to earn a head-bobbing victory in the $400,000 Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) Saturday at Belmont Park.
Saturday, June 10, 2006Jockey John Velazquez said he feels blessed to be back in the saddle so soon after suffering serious injuries during a race at Keeneland in April. He also is looking forward forward to piloting Bluegrass Cat, who was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite, in Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Thursday, June 08, 2006English Channel leads a stellar cast in the $400,000 Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) on the Belmont Park turf Saturday, the race that precedes the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Wednesday, June 07, 2006Colonial Downs' early closing of their twin million dollar 3-year old turf races -- the Colonial Turf Cup and the Virginia Derby (gr. IIT) --have drawn 107 nominations, including Barbaro, Bluegrass Cat and Steppenwolfer, top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby Presneted by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Thursday, May 18, 2006English Channel, a top turf horse last year as a 3-year-old, may be even better this year, now two-for-two in 2006 after a win Saturday at Churchill Downs in the $454,900 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT).
Saturday, May 06, 2006James Scatourchio's 4-year-old English Channel, making his first start since finishing fifth in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), drove to a three-quarters of a length victory in the $100,000 Canadian Turf Handicap Saturday at Gulfsteam Park.
Saturday, March 11, 2006Trainer Todd Pletcher, who broke through with his first two Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships victories last year with Ashado and Speightstown, has eight horses pre-entered this year.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005Trainer Todd Pletcher worked a bunch of his potential Breeders' Cup starters, including champion Ashado, at Belmont Park Monday.
Monday, October 17, 2005With the rains that inundated the Northeast over the previous week long gone, the sunny skies at Belmont Park Monday made for one of the busiest workout days in a long time as a slew of contenders for the Oct. 29 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships got in some much-needed exercise.
Monday, October 17, 2005Shakespeare remained undefeated in five career starts when he outgamed English Channel in Saturday's Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) at Belmont Park.
Saturday, October 01, 2005Shakespeare, an easy winner while setting a course mark in the nine-furlong Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) Sept. 11, steps up and stretches out Saturday in the 1 1/2-mile Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Belmont Park.
Thursday, September 29, 2005With his disappointing fourth-place finish in Saturday's Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II), Perfect Drift has now become a longshot special for the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I). And that makes him even more enticing, as he tries to emulate Volponi, another versatile, hard-knocking warrior who saved his best performance for the Classic.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005Gun Salute took aim on the odds-on favorite English Channel in the stretch run of the $400,000 Secretariat (gr. IT) and shot away to a two-length victory Saturday on a yielding Arlington Park turf course.
Saturday, August 13, 2005By winning the first two legs of the inaugural Grand Slam of Grass, English Channel has instantaneously brought to life a demanding turf series that many thought far-fetched when it was first announced. The bonus series guarantees a $5 million payout to the exceptional horse that can sweep the four races.
Friday, August 12, 2005Well over $40 million was wagered in the 40 days of live racing at Colonial Downs during the 2005 summer meet that concluded on Aug. 9.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005English Channel and Chattahoochee War take their rivalry up a notch when they meet in Saturday's $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) for 3-year-olds at Arlington Park.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005The $750,000 Virginia Derby (gr. IIIT) attracted 11 starters, including English Channel, the winner of the first leg of the $5-million "Grand Slam of Grass." Jockey John Velazquez returns to ride Todd Pletcher's $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup winner.
Monday, July 11, 2005A dawdling pace in Saturday's $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup couldn't stop prohibitive favorite English Channel, whose devastating late kick produced an easy 3 1/2-length at Colonial Downs.
Saturday, June 25, 2005Trainers Bill Mott and Todd Pletcher could have 3-year-old colts running side by side in two $500,000 turf stakes at two different tracks Saturday afternoon.
Friday, June 24, 2005Saturday's inaugural running of the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup at Virginia's Colonial Downs has attracted 11 entries for the race restricted to 3-year-old turf horses.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005The stakes program got off to a good start Saturday at Pimlico with odds-on choice English Channel blazing home well clear in the $100,000 Woodlawn Stakes for trainer Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez.
Saturday, May 21, 2005