Their trip in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile wasn't the smoothest one, but General Jim and jockey Luis Saez prevailed anyway to win with a closing effort on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 6. The pair got out of the gate cleanly but were squeezed back, then jostled by Freezing Point leaving the chute of the dirt track. They had to sit wide for much of the mile while Damon's Mound led the way, swinging out going into the turn and coming into the stretch at least four wide. Fort Bragg, who had lurked just behind Damon's Mound, took over the lead on the turn and battled to the inside of a closing General Jim, but by the wire, General Jim prevailed by a narrow margin.
Shug McGaughey trains General Jim for Donald Adam's Courtlandt Farms.
Freezing Point, ridden by Corey Lanerie for trainer Joe Lejzerowicz, pulled up abruptly on the backstretch of the race. According to American Association of Equine Practitioners on-call veterinarian Dr. Alan Ruggles, Freezing Point walked into the equine ambulance under his own power and is being transferred to an equine medical center for evaluation. The extent of any injuries is unknown as of this writing. Lanerie rode back to the front side in the ambulance but appeared to be uninjured.
Fort Bragg was second, followed by Gilmore. The final time for the mile was 1:34.43, with fractions of :22.41, :45.00, and 1:21.61.
General Jim paid $12.04, $6.26, and $4.76. Favored Kangaroo Court was eleventh. See the full chart here.
McGaughey brought General Jim to this start off a solid one-length win in the G3 Swale at Gulfstream Park in early February.
General Jim was bred in Kentucky by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock and Centerline Breeding, and is by Into Mischief. He is out of Curlin mare Inspired by Grace. He was a $850,000 yearling at Keeneland September, where he was consigned by Indian Creek.
PAT DAY MILE QUOTES
Luis Saez (jockey, General Jim, winner) – “When he got a good spot at the half mile pole, we knew we had a chance to win the race. He has plenty of talent. It was an existing stretch duel and Joel (Rosario) is a pretty tough to ride against but we finally got the jump. We decided to make a change after his last couple of races (and add blinkers) and I don't think he would have won without (wearing) blinkers. It makes a big difference.”
Don Adams (owner, General Jim, winner) – “It was a magnificent win. To win on day like today is truly special. He's become a nice horse, very special. He's won two in a row now and hopefully we'll see good things down the road. We'll let Shug (McGaughey) decide what's next for him.”
Joel Rosario (jockey, Fort Bragg, second) – “Turning for home it looked like we were going to win. That other horse ran a big race. He did everything I asked him to do and I guess he just ran second best today.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. (jockey, Gilmore, third) – “I went a little wide on the turn but he still kept coming. He's a nice horse but he got beat by two nice horses and he never gave up.”
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