Channel Lady Gearing Up for Honey Fox

Channel Lady, who captured the Suwannee River (G3) in her most recent start, is scheduled to return in the $150,000 Honey Fox (G2) at Gulfstream on March 16. The 4-year-old daughter of English Channel, who had previously finished a close second in the Marshua’s River (G3) at Gulfstream, set a controlled pace under Javier Castellano before holding off a late-charging Abaco by three-quarters of a length on Feb. 9.

“She’s very, very consistent. She shows up every morning and does her job and she shows up in the afternoon and does the same,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, whose 4-year-old filly will be cutting back from 1 1/8 miles to a mile on turf for the Honey Fox. She has a win and a second in two starts at the distance.

Channel Lady, who debuted with an off-the-board finish in an off-the-turf race at Gulfstream last season, has races six times on turf, producing four victories and two seconds.

Pletcher trainer her sire, English Channel, a multiple-Grade 1 stakes winner who was retired directly following a victory in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Monmouth Park.

“From a physical standpoint, she looks a lot like English Channel, which is tempting me to want to stretch her out at some point, which we may do,” Pletcher said. “She’s just a pleasure to be around. She’s very straightforward, very professional.”