The General George Stakes (Grade 3)- $250.000 Purse
LRL- For Four Year Olds and Upward
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
February 16, 2019

At LRL today we had a little more then the standard schedule of free track racing, as the Grade 3 General George Stakes took place with eleven going to post. Our pick to win would be Creepy Palace, but he would still go off at odds of 7/1. That didn’t stop him from earning a hard fought win in what was a closely contested seven furlong race. The winning trainer for Creepy Palace is D J C Racing Stables, earning his first win in the stake. D E Centeno made his trip north count in his first win the race as well. The time of the win was 1:21.70. Here’s a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :22.80)- No one in the field bursts out of the gate in an aggressive manner, and it initially becomes three of them looking to get the advantage. Eventually, Delta Farms’ Ride Or Die would be the one grabbing the lead, and doing so by a length over Warrior Patriot, from Paradise Stable, and Glorious, for Spankys Barn. Stalking them closely would be Sparrow Hills (Mb Stables) on the rail, and No Waiting (John Henry) to his outside. The eventual winner, Creepy Palace, was about a length behind them for D J C Racing Stables, but in a position to come on through between them if he so desired. It’s another length to Pink Cadillac (John Henry) and Residue (Smokey Stover). Eureka (Simmer Down Stable) is next along the rail, and trailing would be Bad English (Maxmillion Farm) and Along For The Ride (Fractious).

(½ Mile- :45.64)- Ride Or Die continues to ride along in the lead while running the same pace he had over the first quarter of the race. Midway through the turn now, we see Glorious looking to come up closer along his outside. Room was potentially developing for Warrior Patriot to split them, as he ran in the third spot. Sparrow Hills and No Waiting simply maintained their ground, and Creepy Palace was doing the same at this stage of the race. Residue, the post time favorite was within a half length of Creepy Palace here, and had a no excuses type lane in front of him. The other four were four wide at this point. Eureka, Along For The Ride, Bad English, and Pink Cadillac had five and a half lengths to make up.

(1.5F To Go)- As they approached the exit of the turn, we saw the gap of from front to back began to shrink, so it really had the look of it being anyone’s race at this point. As the stretch run began a little bit, Warrior Patriot did take the lane that was forming between Ride Or Die and Glorious, but also ended up leaving a gap for Sparrow Hills to come on through. At this particular moment in the race, you had to like how it seemed to be setting up for Sparrow Hills. Creepy Palace was moving forward, too, and was just a length and a half off the lead, with a wide opening forming in front of him. Residue held his ground, and had a clear lane to take here. No Waiting tried to hang tough. Those who were at the back looked to advance as well, and both Eureka and Along For The Ride seemed to be in the best spot for it.

(Finish- 1:21.70)- In a wild finish, Warrior Patriot seemed to be winning the battle of those at the front, but the room he left for Creepy Palace would come back to haunt him. Creepy Palace would have just enough in the final moments to make the pass for the lead and have the wire come just in time to get the hard fought for win. Warrior Patriot hangs on for second. Residue was coming on the outside, though runs out of time, and has to settle for third. He had a wide trip for most of this race, bear in mind. The next four could nearly have been in a dead heat, but with the headbobs analyzed it can be scored as Glorious, Eureka, Sparrow Hills, and Bad English. Sparrow Hills really has no excuse to end up sixth in this race after the position he seemed to be in with 1.5 furlongs to go, tight finish or not. Ride Or Die, Pink Cadillac, No Waiting, and Along For The Ride finish the running order.

About The Winner- Creepy Palace, trained by D J C Racing Stables and ridden to victory by D E Centeno, is a five year old horse by My Creepy, and is out of Palace World. He was bred in New York as a third quarter two year old by D J C Racing Stables, the only trainer for which he has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his sixth in 20 starts, his fourth stake win, and third graded win. His career earnings are now $916.220.

Track: Fast
Time: :22⁴  :45³  1:09²  1:21³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 5 Paid 88.00
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 5 – 7 Paid 305.50

Scratched: None

Winner picked by NS

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES