English Channel Filly Crushes Rivals at Kentucky Downs

This column highlights the performances of maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are grade/group winners, or have dams that are grade/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners.

Kentucky Downs

It took four starts for everything to click for Smooth Waves , but when it did, she was akin to a tsunami force rocking through the hills of Kentucky Downs. The 2-year-old daughter of the late English Channel thrived over the European-style turf course, bidding adieu to her rivals around the far turn and romping to a 9 1/4-length victory Sept. 10.

Smooth Waves’ older full brother, the 2019 Virginia Derby (G3T) hero English Bee , was a hard-luck second at Kentucky Downs 11 days earlier in the $349,167 Tapit Stakes. English Bee and Smooth Waves were both bred by Calumet Farm, where English Channel stood before his death in 2021.

While 7-year-old English Bee runs for the silks of Calumet for trainer Graham Motion, Smooth Waves is campaigned by Three Diamonds Farm. She was sold for $90,000 to Grassroots Training and Sales as a yearling at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale.

Although Smooth Waves failed to hit the board in her first three starts for trainer Mike Maker, her speed figures were generally improving the farther she ran. Fifth in a 1 1/16-mile turf maiden special weight at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 6, she was prepared for full flight this time in the $157,000 maiden event at Kentucky Downs. Contested at a mile, which is arguably closer to 1 1/16 miles or 1 1/8 miles over the arduous hilly course, Smooth Waves chased the leader in second early before taking command at the six-furlong marker. Bounding to the wire with no one in sight except jockey Tyler Gaffalione on her back, she swept under the wire in a final time of 1:36.05.