November 20, 2024

General Election called in Arlington Classic

Last updated: 5/25/13 8:02 PM











General Election looks to have a bright future on grass following his Arlington Classic score

(Four Footed Fotos)

Arlington Park stewards had to resolve several disputes regarding the stretch
run of Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000

Arlington Classic
, but ultimately decided to leave WinStar Farm’s General
Election in the winner’s slot while demoting Dorsett from third to fourth.

Making his turf debut in the Classic under Joe Rocco Jr., General Election
saved ground for the first half of the race, improved position approaching the
quarter pole while skimming the rail, and then shot through an opening along the
fence inside in the final furlong. Edging clear in the final yards, General
Election made incidental contact with a tiring Gefest while Dorsett drifted in
on the same rival. Objections by Gefest’s rider and trainer against General
Election were disallowed, but those against Dorsett were sustained.

A 13-1 chance, General Election prevailed by a length in a time of 1:45 2/5
for 1 1/16 miles on good ground. He rewarded his backers with mutuels of $28.20,
$10.40 and $8.20.

Admiral Kitten, the 9-5 favorite, avoided the stretch controversy with a late
bid down the middle of the course. He was up to claim place honors by a head,
with Dorsett and Gefest separated by a nose. Second choice Procurement was a
neck farther back in fifth.

The order of finish was rounded out by Whiskey Bravo, Bells Big Bernie, who
set early fractions of :23 4/5, :49 and 1:14 1/5, Yorkshire Icon, Brown
Almighty, Bambazonki, Bobo and Fordubai.

A debut winner by three lengths over the main track at Churchill Downs last
November, General Election was a distant second to Mylute, who later placed in
the Louisiana Derby and Preakness, in a Fair Grounds allowance next out. Donning
blinkers for the first time in a February 1 allowance at the same track, the son
of Harlan’s Holiday fared worse when a well-beaten sixth behind eventual
Illinois Derby hero Departing.

General Election ran on Polytrack in his next three starts with some success.
A come-from-behind winner of the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway by a
half-length, the bay raced near the back of the field throughout the March 23
renewal of the Spiral over the same track. However, the colt rebounded with a
strong runner-up showing in the Lexington at Keeneland when last seen April 20.
His record now stands at 7-3-2-0, $211,110.

Bred in Kentucky by Meg Buckley and Mike Buckley, General Election was a
$150,000 OBS March two-year-old in training purchase. He was reared by the
Kingmambo mare Menekineko, making him a half-brother to Ready’s Echo, a
non-stakes winner who placed in such prestigious Grade 1 events as the Belmont,
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the Forego. Ready’s Echo also placed in the Jamaica
Handicap on turf.

General Election’s fourth dam was French champion Madelia, who captured both
the French One Thousand Guineas and French Oaks.



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