Souper Tapit seeks second consecutive win in Sunday's English Channel

by Brian Bohl

Graded stakes winner Souper Tapit will look to parlay class relief into a second consecutive victory in Sunday's third running of the $100,000 English Channel for 3-year-olds on Belmont Park's Widener turf.

Owned by Live Oak Plantation, Souper Tapit is coming off a two-length win in the Grade 3 Marine on May 28 at Woodbine at 1 1/16 miles. Following a nearly five-month freshening, the Tapit colt was shipped back to the United States, where he will be cutting back in distance to a mile for the first time in five career starts.

Souper Tapit, trained by Mark Casse, will make his Belmont debut from post 10 with Jose Lezcano aboard.

Lael Stables' No Dozing will also be looking to capitalize on class relief in making the switch to turf after running sixth last out in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course. The Arnaud Delacour trainee won his first stakes before his first Grade 1 appearance, posting a fourth-length score in the Concern on July 22 at Laurel Park in which he tied his personal best with a 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

No Dozing, who made all 10 his previous starts on dirt, will have jockey Daniel Centeno in the saddle from post 6.

Fact Finding started his career 3-for-3 before tiring late in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis on February 11 at Tampa Bay. A wide trip led to a fourth-place effort last out in the Allied Forces September 10 at Belmont over six furlongs in his turf debut. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fact Finding, who won the Smooth Air Stakes at a mile on dirt to cap his 2-year-old campaign last December, will have the services of Luis Saez from the outside post.

Harlan's Harmony will be looking to earn a return trip to the winner's circle for the first time since his juvenile days. After five straight starts - all against stakes company - out of the money, the Curragh Stables' colt will be looking to recapture the form that led to two straight wins to start his career, including the 2016 Skidmore at the Spa. Trained by John Terranova, Harlan's Harmony will break from post 9 with Angel Arroyo in the irons. 

Lunaire, who finished fourth in the Grade 3 Kent on July 15 at Delaware Park, will return to stakes company for the first time in three starts for trainer Tom Albertrani in breaking from post 2. Joel Rosario will ride. 

Let's Get Loud, making his stakes debut for trainer Chad Brown after two straight wins, will exit post 3 with Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano.

Rounding out the field is Bird's Eye View, for trainer Michael Dini, from post 8 and Dalarna out of post 4 for trainer Kelly Rubley.

Sonic Mule, You're to Blame and Hammerin Aamer are entered for the main track only.