Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Kentucky Derby Prep Race Results: General Quarters Wins Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland
Posted on Saturday, April 11th, 2009
General Quarters thrust himself into the 2009 Kentucky Derby picture Saturday with an upset victory in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.
Kept close to the early leaders by jockey Eibar Coa throughout the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds, the son of Sky Mesa, General Quarters, took command in midstretch and defeated Hold Me Back, the 2-1 favorite, by 1 1/2 lengths. Massone finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
General Quarters, the 14-1 eighth choice in the 11-horse field, ran 1 1/8 miles on the fast Polytrack in 1:49.26 and earned $465,000 for owner-trainer Thomas McCarthy and secured his spot in the Kentucky Derby entries list.
Thomas McCarthy, who has raced horses on a small scale for many years, claimed General Quarters for $20,000 on May 30 last year at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby 135, in the colt’s first career start.
General Quarters first signaled his promise with a 3 1/2-length victory in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) in February at Tampa Bay Downs. He soon was forgotten when he finished fifth in his next start, the Tampa Bay Derby (G3).
Returned to his home base in Louisville, McCarthy readied him for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. “He trained like a champion all week, and after that breeze last week (:58.20 for five furlongs) I knew I had him right where I wanted him,” said McCarthy. “I think he exhibited the tenacity to go on to the (Kentucky) Derby.”
“I saw his race, the prep for the (Grade 3) Tampa Bay Derby (the Sam F. Davis), and I loved the way he ran,” said jockey Eibar Coa who was riding General Quarters for the first time. “I also saw the Tampa Bay Derby, where he got in a lot of traffic.”
“Mr. McCarthy told me just to run his race (and said), ‘Without traffic, I know he is going to show up today,’” jockey Eibar Coa continued.
General Quarters paid $30.60.
Terrain finished fourth in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes followed, in order, by Join in the Dance, Loch Dubh, Charitable Man, Mafaaz (GB), Theregoesjojo, Patena and Cliffy’s Future.
Horse racing news edited from www.keeneland.com.
Tags: Charitable Man, Cliffy's Future, General Quarters, Hold Me Back, Join in the Dance, Loch Dubh, Mafaaz, Massone, Patena, Terrain, Theregoesjojo
"Kentucky Derby Prep Race Results: General Quarters Wins Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland" was posted on Saturday, April 11th, 2009 at 10:53 pm and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Keeneland, Race Tracks News, Results & Payouts, Stakes Races, Triple Crown, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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