BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Tank challenged Forged Steel around the far turn then outran the even-money favorite in the stretch to win the $80,000 English Channel for 3-year-olds going a mile on the turf at Gulfstream Park Saturday. It was the second consecutive stakes victory for the 3-year-old colt after winning the $110,000 Equistaff Sophomore Turf on Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs on March 30.
Tank is the second Florida Cup graduate to win a stakes event Saturday after Florida-bred Macho Music took the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs after winning the $110,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sale Sophomore in his last start.
With Emisael Jaramillo in the saddle, Tank broke promptly from post two but could not wrestle the lead from Forged Steel as the field of eight headed into the clubhouse turn. Forged Steel led Tank by a length through the first two furlongs in a comfortable :24.03 with Insubordination (Ire) just behind him in third.
After a half-mile in :46.65, Jaramillo sent Tank after Forged Steel and they went at each other until mid-stretch when Tank edged clear to win by a length in 1:33.23 on the firm turf. Florida-bred Win With Faith ran on late on the outside to get second, a neck in front of Forged Steel in third. Nemo rallied for fourth followed by Insubordination, I’m Due, Bakers Street and Dream Scheme.
It was the second time Win With Faith and Tank completed the Florida-bred exacta after finishing in the first two spots in the Sophomore Turf as well.
A nearly nine-length winner of $50,000 maiden claiming in his third career race on the Gulfstream synthetic in October, Tank was then second to Naughty Rascal in the $95,000 Armed Forces going a mile on the Gulfstream turf on Nov. 2. A poor start in the $100,000 Pulpit on Nov. 29 at Gulfstream resulted in him finishing last of 10, but he came back to finish a strong second to Dream On in a first level, $75,000 optional claiming on the turf in January. He next finished fourth in an allowance on the Gulfstream Park synthetic on Feb. 6 before traveling to Tampa Bay for the Sophomore Turf.
Tank has now won three of nine starts with two seconds and a third and the $45,560 first-place check boosted his lifetime bankroll to $196,020 for owner Arindel, who also bred the bay colt.
Tank is by Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie and is the only foal out of Florida-bred mare Vegas, by Brethren. Unraced, Vegas is also an Arindel homebred.
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