The General George Stakes – Grade III (P2)
 LRL Race #16 7f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $250.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Electric Angelos Stable Toledo Je 124 —

This is a good field and this five-year-old is right in the mix running from the ace draw. The winner of last year’s Bold Ruler he has been a tough and consistent sprinter since coming back from route trips in February of last year and had a recent tune up at TAM where he cantered home an easy winner. plenty to like about his chances over a trip that should suit.

2 Anna Da Artist Smokey Stover Maldonado E 124 —

Ended the season with a neck win over seven furlongs and started the season with a neck loss over twelve furlongs, that’s just how hard it is for the punter and how easy it is for the owner. A good horse at HRP is a good horse regardless of trip but the fact that this seven-race winner took the Perryville over this trip at least confirms that he can win at it. The perfect draw, a 1.36 flat work over the mile and a trainer that can turn out winners at the bat of an eye, there are a lot of positives around him.

3 Expert Eye TwinTowersRacing Gaffalione T 124 —

The current BC Sprint champion and a recent sub 1:10 work for six furlongs, you would have to say this evergreen seven-year-old looks in perfect fettle for a win today. It is hard to even contemplate a sub 1:10 work and it’s a benchmark that very few achieve, in fact there were less than 30 last year when Expert Eye achieved the mark. A suitable draw and a great chance in a very strong field to make a stand for a repeat BC win.

4 Papa Nature Night Rider Stables Karamanos HA 124 —

This is such a good field of sprinters that this one is left looking a bit ordinary even though he has the sort of form that could easily make him competitive. He started the year off with a good win in the Sat Florida Sandy over this trip which may actually turn out to be his best trip. The works are OK without being in the same league as the favorites here, but he will be battling for a paycheck.

5 Crypto Maxmillion Farm Rodriguez Jam 124 —

He was on a real run leading up to the BC taking the Vosburg by an easy two lengths and heading to the big one as a leading fancy. He was very impressive in taking the Vosburg last year but was then saddled with a rotten draw in the BC and despite putting in a fair effort ended up a never dangerous fifth. The draw monster bit hard in his next two outings but he was very close to winning the Malibu when going down by a nose to the Horse of the year Individuation. He makes a quick turnaround here after a seasonal debut win in the Taboggan where he only won by a neck but never looked like being beaten. A very obvious winning chance in a field packed with talent.

6 Contradiction Aer Stables Pennington F 124 —

When you consider he has only four wins from twenty-five starts he has done very well to amass nearly $1,500.000 in prize money. His record is pretty impressive, second in the Preakness, the winner of the PA Derby and a very close fourth in the BC Classic in 2021 puts him right up there, but this five-year-old hasn’t raced in a sprint since 2020 as a two-year-old which puts into question all he has achieved when looking at this race. But, and this is the thing, trip means very little at HRP which he has proved by matching the work outs of many of the best sprinters over six furlongs. So, can he, play the hack, or at least follow the tradition of horses switching surfaces and trips and winning big races? Well, you would be a fool to think the trip is his problem.

7 Crimson Sun Riggins Racing Lopez C E 124 —

The stable has been busy building the yard back up to its former strength and their capability as a trainer is shining through when you look at the works this one is laying down. A 1:10 fat work certainly puts him in the picture and when you consider his good effort in the Mr Prospector from a wide gate last time, and his win in the Fleet Sprint last year you would have to put him on any list to get into the cation in this race.

8 Blamethespeedparty Martyparty Gonzalez El 124 —

Had Crimson Sun behind when nearly making all and just getting nabbed in the Mr Prospector last time, that effort certainly gives him a chance, but this draw will make it tough. Having said that he raced from gate 11 in the Mr Prospector so if he uses the wide gate speed push and gets to the lead again there is no reason why he won’t be in this for a long way.

9 Flip A Coin Party Threshold Carrasco V R 124 —

I have seen it happen many a time where the horse with the least chance on paper is sacrificed to the wide gate and this is a horse that may have needed some luck from the draw monster to be competitive. Having said that he has run 1:10 in his works so it’s not beyond comprehension that with some luck in running and maybe some bad luck for the others he could be there at the finish.

SUMMARY

This is a very good sprint field indeed and will certainly take some winning. The draw favors the top three in the betting with Expert Eye and Crypto looking the best on paper. If there was to be one from outside the box, then Contradiction could sprint well, and Anna Da Artist may find the gate to his liking.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES