Ridden by Jeremy Rose, General Jumbo was still in sixth place through a mile, but began passing tiring rivals as the field turned for home. By the time they hit the top of the stretch, the 5-year-old horse got the advantage over longtime leader Starspangled Gator. It was a duel through most of stretch between General Jumbo and Fri Guy, who stalked the pace the entire way under Julien Leparoux.
Rose urged General Jumbo through the stretch, getting the son of Dansili-Aunt Jemima up in a course record time of 2:26.98. Bred in Great Britain by Snailwell Stud, it was only the fourth win in 22 starts for General Jumbo, who had not won a race since May of 2006 -- an allowance at Delaware Park. It was span of nine races without a trip to the winners circle.
General Jumbo, trained by Graham Motion, paid $6.80 as the favorite. Zayat Stables’ Fri Guy was a tough-luck second, filling out a $45.80 exacta (6-8). Golden Strategy finished third.
There were three other stakes races on the Kentucky Turf Festival Day at Kentucky Downs. The $50,000 Franklin Stakes, for 3-year-olds and up going a mile, was taken by Edmund Gann’s Art Moderne in a three-way photo finish. After trailing by a length entering the stretch, the son of Woodman-Action Francaise took over from front-running His Holiness in the stretch, then desperately held on by a neck over both Salinja and Terrific Storm, who dead-heated for second. The 7-year-old earned his first stakes victory and paid $8.20 to win. He was ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr.
The $100,000 Kentucky Cup Turf Dash Stakes for 3-year-olds and up went to 11-1 longshot Hold the Salt, a 5-year-old son of Salt Lake-With Hollandaise. Trained by James Dodgen, the Cynthia Knight homebred went gate-to-wire, winning by two lengths over Shark. It was the eighth win in 16 starts for Hold the Salt, who was ridden by Charles Woods Jr.
Finally, the one-mile $100,000 Kentucky Cup Ladies Turf Stakes was won by even-money favorite Quiet Royal. The Werthemer & Frere homebred was a length better than Rich Fantasy. The son of Royal Academy-Wakigoer is trained by Todd Pletcher and Chris DeCarlo was aboard.
(Chart, Equibase)