Grass champion English Channel came through with his first winner when his 2-year-old daughter Ann of the Dance won at Arlington Park June 18 at first asking. Last in the early going after getting bumped at the start of the five-furlong race, Ann of the Dance trailed by seven lengths at the eighth pole before charging home to win by a length in 1:01.19 for owner William D. Cox (VIDEO).
Bluegrass Hall is the breeder of Kentucky-bred Ann of the Dance, who is the seventh winner from eight foals of racing age from the Winning mare Dans La Ville. She is part of English Channel's first crop
English Channel won the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT) and consecutive runnings of the United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) along with five other stakes wins. He was voted 2007 champion grass male.
English Channel (Smart Strike—Belva, by Theatrical) stands for $25,000 at William S. Farish’s Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky.