NYRA/Adam Coglianese
By Sarah Mace
After waiting 18 days to contest the one-mile, $100,000 East View Stakes, originally scheduled for December 28 but falling victim to a weather cancellation, Zilla Racing Stable’s English Soul (English Channel) turned in a strong performance at Aqueduct on Sunday afternoon, withstanding pressure on the front end and posting a much-the-best frontrunning score.
In the first incarnation of the East View, English Soul clearly headlined the field of nine New York-bred juvenile fillies on the strength of a pair of wins in off-the-turf events by 21-plus lengths combined. When the race was redrawn for Sunday, however, a slightly different cast of nine newly-turned sophomores showed up, and the race came up stronger.
Added were Midnight Disguise, undefeated in 2 career starts, Aunt Babe, winner of the Fifth Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Stakes series on December 16, and maiden Trinni Ninja.
Also, English Soul moved from post six to the rail, where she would have to use her early lick defensively with the speedy Cryinthemoonlight just to her outside. After the second draw, English Soul’s trainer Ray Handal said, “I still think we’re the horse to beat, but I agree it’s definitely a little bit tougher. I loved our post last time. I’m never happy with the rail.”
Bet down to 9-5 favoritism by post time, English Soul answered the call from the bell, urged to the front by jockey Manny Franco, and leading the field through early splits of 23.96 and 48.74, eagerly pressed by Cryinthemoonlight as the compact field moved up the backstretch.
Racing well off the rail and holding her pursuer at bay through the far turn and until mid-stretch, English Soul dug in under urging, finally turned back her pesky rival and opened up to a decisive 2 3/4-length victory. After six furlongs in 1:15.18, English Soul stopped the clock at 1:42.32 over Aqueduct’s first “fast” track of 2018.
Presser Cryinthemoonlight, was a tough customer to be sure, but had to settle for third. Midnight Disguise, who lingered near the back of the field, passed horses under a ride in the turn and charged home with a vigorous, if somewhat erratic, rally. After looking to alter course to the inside of Cryinthemoonlight, then shifting abruptly to her outside, once in full flight Midnight Disguise made up considerable ground to get the place, five lengths ahead of Cryinthemoonlight.
Trinni Ninja finished fourth, followed by Purely Lucky, Cause We Are Loyal, Aunt Babe, Miss Mystique and Miss Jen. [VIDEO REPLAY]
“This filly is a nice filly,” said jockey Manny Franco. “I just tried to do the same thing as I did the last time I rode her [when she won a state-bred allowance on November 22]. I went to the lead and tried to slow it down as best I could. She responded pretty good. She fights. She doesn’t let other horses pass easy. She relaxed great for me. I just put my hands down and she put her ears up. She did everything on her own.”
Trainer Ray Handal shared his pre-race conversation with Franco. “I talked to Manny a little bit before the race and I asked he what he thought, and he wanted to take it to them. And if they try to run with her, that’s fine, we can angle out. She’s easy to rate. That’s what I liked and the same way I felt.”
Because the East View was English Soul’s first scheduled dirt start, Handal also addressed the issue of surface. “I think she’s a talented horse, period,” said Handal. “Just a stone-cold runner. I wouldn’t say she likes one surface or the other more. There’s a lot more options on the dirt, and we can kind of pick out more places with her as well. For now, I think we’ll keep her on the dirt and maybe try her against open company. We’ll get a game plan with Mike [Piazza, managing partner Zilla Stables] after the race.”
Handal for whom this was a first stakes victory as a trainer, concluded, “She showed everyone she’s the real deal and belongs in stakes company.”
Second by a neck in her Saratoga turf sprint debut, English Soul broke her maiden in the slop in an off-the-turf event on October 9. Unplaced in the open Chelsea Flower, she came back to win another washed off race on November 22 prior to the East View. From three wins and a second in five career starts, English Soul has earned $145,134.
Bred by Mia Gallo, Dave Stack and Arlene Wilkins, and foaled at Tom and Mia Gallo’s Blue Stone Farm in Cambridge, English Soul brought $40,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale in 2016 when purchased by BTR Stable. Zilla Racing Stables bought her as a 2-year-old for $55,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale.
English Soul’s winning dam Soul Possession was bred in New York by Mia Gallo in partnership with Bob Cummings and Annette Bacola’s Coffeepot Stable. Mia Gallo purchased Soul Possession’s dam, New York-bred multiple stakes winner Try N Sue, for Coffee Pot Stables and, in a foal-sharing arrangement with Cummings and Barcola, sent her to Belong to Me. After the mating produced Soul Possession, Mia Gallo bought out her partners when Soul Possession was offered as a yearling in Saratoga.
After being named by new partner Arlene Wilkins, Soul Possession became one of the first fillies raced in the colors of Gallo’s Parting Glass Stable and was trained by Barclay Tagg. Shaun Bridgemohan rode Soul Possession to a debut victory going a mile on the main track on April 29, 2006, while Richard Migliore was aboard for a turf sprint victory at Belmont Park on May 11, 2006.
After being retired to the broodmare band at Blue Stone Farm with Arlene Wilkins and Dave Stack staying in as partners, Soul Possession produced three six-figure earners from three foals to start including Readyheartandsoul (Ready’s Image), a multiple winner who has earned $205,179 over four seasons. English Soul, unfortunately, was the mare’s last foal, because she succumbed to melanoma the following year.
