General Election survived a "recount" of sorts to post his first graded stakes win May 25 in the $150,000 Arlington Classic Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the turf at Arlington Park (VIDEO).
After settling for second in the Lexington Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland last time, 13-1 shot General Election would not be denied his first graded stakes. The Harlan's Holiday colt held off a late charge from 9-5 favorite Admiral Kitten to win the Arlington Classic for 3-year-olds by one length.
In his initial start on turf, WinStar Farm's General Election also withstood a stewards' review after objections were lodged against him and third-place finisher Dorsett by fourth-place finisher Gefest for impeding his stretch run. The objections by Gefest's trainer Gennadi Dorochenko and jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. were disallowed against the winner and jockey Joe Rocco Jr.
The stewards did take down Dorsett, who finished a head behind Admiral Kitten but appeared to swerve inside late. Gefest was placed third, with Dorsett fourth.
Under Rocco, General Election saved ground throughout while Bells Big Bernie led at every call into the stretch, registering a half-mile in :49.10 and six furlongs in 1:14.28. At that point General Election was ninth but he rallied steadily to complete 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.48 on good turf.
Trained by Kellyn Gorder, General Election won the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes in March at Turfway Park before finishing off the board in the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) there. The bay colt bounced back in the Lexington, finishing second to Winning Cause.
General Election returned $28.20 to win, $10.40 to place, and $8.20 to show. Admiral Kitten returned $3.60 and $3.20 and 40-1 shot Gefest returned $15.60 to show. General Election has three wins and two runner-up finishes from seven starts with earnings of $211,110.
"We came into this race very confident," said Gorder's assistant John Ortiz. "He's a smart horse; very sensible. He trains unbelievable. He does whatever you ask him to do."
Bred in Kentucky by Meg and Mike Buckley, General Election is out of the Kingmambo mare Menekineko. General Election is a half brother to 2009 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) runner-up Ready's Echo.
