English Channel, the 2007 champion turf male, has been relocated to Mr. and Mrs. William S. Farish’s Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky., for the 2010 season. Owned by Brad Kelley and James Scatuorchio, English Channel entered stud in 2008 and his first foals arrived this year.
A son of two-time leading sire Smart Strike, who also stands at Lane’s End, English Channel won 13 races, including six grade I events. He earned $5,319,028 over a four-year career which saw him win from ages two through five.
His most important victory came in the 2007 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT) when he won by a record-setting seven lengths, crushing such rivals as Dylan Thomas, Better Talk Now, and Red Rocks. He twice won United Nations Stakes (gr. IT), both in course record time.
“We are pleased that Brad Kelley has decided to have champion English Channel join his sire Smart Strike and his son Curlin at Lane’s End,” said Will Farish. “This very accomplished runner retired from racing sound and proved to be remarkably fertile, getting 90% of his 151 mares in foal in his first year at stud.”
English Channel was produced from the Theatrical mare Belva, and his second dam is four-time European champion Committed.
The 2010 stud fee for English Channel, who previously stood at Hurricane Hall near Lexington, will be announced at a later date.