General Quarters in high spirits after runner-up effort in
return
Tom McCarthy, owner/trainer of GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa), reported for duty
early at Fair Grounds’ Barn 35 Sunday morning to check on his Blue Grass S. (G1)
winner who returned to competition Saturday afternoon in his first start since
last spring’s Preakness S. (G1).
“My horse ran a good race yesterday,” said McCarthy of his personable gray
colt’s second-place finish in Saturday’s six-furlong sprint, “and he came out of
the race just fine. Last night he was making me do a street dance just to keep
up with him when he was cooling out, and then he ate up his dinner just fine.
“He’s always been a chow hound, so he cleaned up his breakfast like he always
does this morning, and once again he absolutely pulled me around the barn.
“This horse will do better going a route of ground,” McCarthy added, “so I’m
looking at either the ($75,000) Louisiana H. (on January 23) for his next start
or possibly the Mineshaft H. (G3) on February 20. It will be one or the other of
those races, or possibly both.”
The ultimate goal of the winter campaign for General Quarters is the $500,000
New Orleans H. (G2) on Louisiana Derby Day, March 27.
“Fair Grounds has a very good schedule for horses once they become
four-year-olds,” McCarthy noted. “That’s why we decided to come to New Orleans
this winter rather than go back to Tampa.”
McCarthy, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, took General Quarters to Tampa
last winter to win the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) and then finish fifth in the Tampa
Bay Derby (G3).
Hunter Run Stable’s TEMPO FIVE (Five Star Day), who defeated General Quarters
by a half-length, also came out of Saturday’s effort in good order, according to
trainer Tom Amoss.
“He’s doing real well this morning,” said Amoss of his sprinter. “What’s
next? The (F.W.) Gaudin Memorial (at six furlongs January 23) is certainly a
possibility. He’ll be nominated for that. That’s for sure.”
Jockey James Graham, who has ridden Tempo Five in his last two starts, was
positive in his reviews of Saturday’s win.
“This is a very good horse,” Graham said. “He met Euroears (Langfuhr) in his
last start ($60,000 Thanksgiving H.) and gave that horse everything he could
handle.”
Euroears, hero of Fair Grounds’ F.W. Gaudin Memorial S., Colonel Power S. and
Duncan F. Kenner S. two seasons ago, bested Tempo Five by 1 1/2 lengths when
they finished first and second in last month’s Thanksgiving H.