In preparations for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), grade I-placed General a Rod completed a leisurely five-furlong breeze in 1:03 2/5 April 23 at Churchill Downs.
The workout was more than three seconds slower than the other Derby worker on Wednesday, grade II winner Hoppertunity, who completed five furlongs in 1:00 1/5. J. Armando Rodriguez's General a Rod completed the first furlong in :13 and a quarter-mile in :26 1/5. He completed his final quarter-mile in :24 2/5 and galloped out another furlong in :14 1/5.
General a Rod is one of three horses trainer Mike Maker is pointing to the May 3 Kentucky Derby. The son of Roman Ruler is joined by stablemates Vicar's in Trouble and Harry's Holiday. Maker said General a Rod's move was a maintenance work and he'll work again one more time before the Derby.
"They're all in good shape," Maker said of his trio. "General a Rod had a routine, maintenance work, so we'll work him back in six days and go from there."
General a Rod won the Gulfstream Park Derby Jan. 1 and enters the Kentucky Derby off of a runner-up finish in the Feb. 22 Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), followed by a third-place finish in the Besilu Florida Derby (gr. I) March 29 at Gulfstream Park.
