Tank Powers His Way to Narrow Victory in English Channel

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Starship Stables’ Starship Impulsive, a front-running winner in her two-turn debut last month, used similar tactics to become a stakes winner for the first time after turning back favored Spirited Boss in Saturday’s $80,000 Honey Ryder at Gulfstream Park.

The Honey Ryder for 3-year-old fillies shared top billing on an 11-race program with the $80,000 English Channel for 3-year-olds, both going one mile on the grass.

Ridden by Leonel Reyes for trainer Steve Dwoskin, Starship Impulsive ($7.80) covered a firm turf course in 1:33.73 to register her second straight win and third in six starts. Reyes has been aboard for each of the last two races, as well as her Dec. 26 unveiling when she ran fourth.

“She’s a nice filly,” Reyes said. “I was confident with her because I worked her last week and she worked really, really good. She improved today because the last time she was in front easy and today she had a lot of pressure. When I asked her in the stretch she responded very well.”

Spirited Boss, riding a three-race win streak capped by a come-from-behind triumph in the March 29 Sanibel Island going 7 ½ furlongs, broke on top but soon settled in third as Starship Impulsive took the initiative and ran the opening quarter-mile in 23.69 seconds. She went the half in 46.34 while continuing to be pressed by 13-1 long shot It’s Witchcraft, when Edgar Perez tipped Spirited Boss to the outside to set up her closing bid. Starship Impulsive remained steadfast up front and opened up on feeling Spirited Boss come to her near the eighth pole to win by 1 ¾ lengths.

TAG Stables’ Florida homebred Spirited Boss held second, followed by Curlaine, It’s Witchcraft, Special Aviator, Annie Goodbody and Origami. Sheshimaintenance was scratched.

Starship Impulsive made each of her first three starts at five furlongs on the turf, graduating third time out in a Feb. 16 maiden special weight, before finishing seventh at the distance in a March 6 optional claimer on the all-weather Tapeta course. Dwoskin switched the surface, distance and tactics when Starship Impulsive returned to win a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance April 5 on grass.

Tank Powers His Way to Narrow Victory in English Channel

Arindel’s Tank ($12.60) powered this way past even-money favorite Forged Steel and narrowly held off the late charge of Win With Faith nearing the wire to capture the $80,000 English Channel, a five-furlong turf stakes for 3-year-olds that co-headlined Saturday’s program at Gulfstream Park with the $80,000 Honey Ryder, a furlong-turf stakes for sophomore fillies.

The Florida homebred notched his second victory in a row, following up a win in the March 30 Sophomore Turf at Tampa Bay Downs, where the son of Adios Charlie more comfortably held off a late charge by runner-up Win With Faith by two lengths.

Forged Steel, the even-money favorite in a field of eight, went right to the lead and set fractions of 24.03 and 46.65 seconds for the first half-mile with Tank settling nicely in second. On the far turn, jockey Emisael Jaramillo sent Tank after Forged Steel and jockey Edwin Gonzalez, pulling alongside the favorite heading into the stretch.

Tank continued his attack and drew away from Forged Steel through the stretch run when Win With Faith, a 15-1 shot ridden by Leonel Reyes, entered the picture with a late rally that would fall short by a half-length.

The Carlos David-trained Tank ran a mile on firm turf in 1:33.23. Win With Faith finished a neck ahead of third-place finisher Forged Steel.