ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike), a convincing winner of both the Colonial Turf
Cup S. and Woodlawn S. in his last two starts, will make his first appearance in
a graded event when he takes on 10 opponents in Saturday’s $750,000 Virginia
Derby (G3) at Colonial Downs. The Todd Pletcher trainee, who is eligible for a
lucrative bonus awarded to any three-year-old who sweeps the Colonial Turf Cup,
Virginia Derby, Secretariat S. (G1) on August 13 and Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1),
will have regular rider John Velazquez up and breaks from post 4 in the grassy 1
1/4-mile race.
Crown Royal American Turf (G3) and Hill Prince S. (G3) winner REY DE CAFE (Kingmambo)
is a top contender. The Rusty Arnold charge has run well over three different
courses this year and retains the services of jockey Javier Castellano.
CHATTAHOOCHEE WAR (War Chant), who finished a neck better than Rey de Cafe when
capturing the Transylvania S. (G3) three starts back, exits a troubled runner-up
finish in the Kent Breeders’ Cup (G3) and is one of two entrants for Hall of Fame
conditioner Bobby Frankel. English Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) runner-up REBEL
REBEL (Ire) (Revoque) is scheduled to make his U.S. bow in the Virginia Derby
for Frankel along with jockey Jerry Bailey.
Other participants include RUSH BAY (Cozzene), winner of the Jefferson Cup S.
(G3) at Churchill Downs last out, and Jersey Derby runner-up SPRING
HOUSE (Chester House), who closed fast to finish a close second in the Kent
before being disqualified to third.
Rebel Rebel heads the post parade under a 116-pound impost and will be
followed by Chattahoochee War, no rider, 120; PRINCE RAHY (Rahy), no rider, 122;
English Channel, 120; CROWN POINT (Honor Grades), Jose Espinoza, 116; Spring
House, Gary Stevens, 116; SILVER WHISTLE (Alphabet Soup), Ramon Dominguez, 116;
Rush Bay, Robby Albarado, 120; INTERPATATION (Langfuhr), Mike Luzzi, 118; Rey de
Cafe, 118; and CRIMINAL MIND (Cryptoclearance), Cornelio Velasquez, 120.
The undercard contains the $200,000 All Along Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) and
$200,000 Virginia Oaks. The All Along, which will be held over nine grassy
furlongs, drew a field of 14 distaffers, including Grade 3 winner SNOWDROPS (GB)
(Gulch) and BRIVIESCA (GB) (Peintre Celebre), who has finished a close second in
both the Gallorette H. (G3) and The Very One H. (G3) this year. The Virginia
Oaks, which is held over 1 1/8 miles for sophomore fillies, attracted eight
contestants, including RICH IN SPIRIT (Repriced), an excellent 1 1/4-length
winner of Churchill Downs’ Regret S. (G3).