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General Election called in Arlington Classic

General Election looks to have a bright future on grass following his Arlington Classic score (Four Footed Fotos) Arlington Park stewards had to resolve several disputes regarding the stretch run of Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Arlington Classic, but ultimately decided to leave WinStar Farm's General Election in the winner's slot while demoting Dorsett from third to fourth. Making his turf debut in the Classic under Joe Rocco Jr., General Election saved ground for the first half of the race, improved position approaching the quarter pole while skimming the rail, and then shot through an opening along the fence inside in the final furlong. Edging clear in the final yards, General Election made incidental contact with a tiring Gefest while Dorsett drifted in on the same rival. Objections by Gefest's rider and trainer against General Election were disallowed, but those against Dorsett were sustained. "I felt it hindered my horse more than he hindered others because when they contacted him, it turned my horse's butt sideways," Rocco explained. "I feel like we were going to draw off from there, but it made him pause -- then he went on from it. I think all the pressure was from the outside (Dorsett)." A 13-1 chance, General Election prevailed by a length in a time of 1:45 2/5 for 1 1/16 miles on good ground. He rewarded his backers with mutuels of $28.20, $10.40 and $8.20.

Admiral Kitten, the 9-5 favorite, avoided the stretch controversy with a late bid down the middle of the course. He was up to claim place honors by a head, with Dorsett and Gefest separated by a nose. Second choice Procurement was a neck farther back in fifth.

The order of finish was rounded out by Whiskey Bravo, Bells Big Bernie, who set early fractions of :23 4/5, :49 and 1:14 1/5, Yorkshire Icon, Brown Almighty, Bambazonki, Bobo and Fordubai.

A debut winner by three lengths over the main track at Churchill Downs last November, the Kellyn Gorder-trained General Election was a distant second to Mylute, who later placed in the Louisiana Derby and Preakness, in a Fair Grounds allowance next out. Donning blinkers for the first time in a February 1 allowance at the same track, the son of Harlan's Holiday fared worse when a well-beaten sixth behind eventual Illinois Derby hero Departing.

General Election ran on Polytrack in his next three starts with some success. A come-from-behind winner of the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway by a half-length, the bay raced near the back of the field throughout the March 23 renewal of the Spiral over the same track. However, the colt rebounded with a strong runner-up showing in the Lexington at Keeneland when last seen April 20. His record now stands at 7-3-2-0, $211,110.

Bred in Kentucky by Meg Buckley and Mike Buckley, General Election was a $150,000 OBS March two-year-old in training purchase. He was reared by the Kingmambo mare Menekineko, making him a half-brother to Ready's Echo, a non-stakes winner who placed in such prestigious Grade 1 events as the Belmont, Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and the Forego. Ready's Echo also placed in the Jamaica Handicap on turf.

General Election's fourth dam was French champion Madelia, who captured both the French One Thousand Guineas and French Oaks.

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