General a Rod wins close Gulfstream Park Derby
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Following a convincing win at 7 furlongs and a strong 2nd
at a mile to a stakes winner, General a Rod looked primed to fire a big one in the third running of the Gulfstream Park Derby. With Mike Maker
as his trainer and the talented Joel Rosario in the irons, the son of Roman Ruler
had all the tools he needed to have a successful day. All he needed was racing
luck. Luck was with him today as he received both a clean trip and a good ride.
Breaking from the far outside post in the field of 9,
General a Rod flashed some early speed to clear his foes to the inside and move
closer to the rail to contest the early lead. To his inside, Wildcat Red and Aarons Orient also showed good early speed, so Rosario collected
his mount and took him back to let the inside pair battle it out for the lead.
Stride for stride, Wildcat Red and Aarons Orient threw down fractions of 23:14
for the quarter and 45:91 for the half.
As the field entered the turn, General a Rod began to inch
up on the dueling duo. Exiting the turn, Aarons Orient spit the bit and it was
left to Wildcat Red and General a Rod to decide who would take home top honors
and who would have to settle for second. Despite being pressured the whole
race, Wildcat Red, with underrated Paco Lopez in the irons, continued to
courageously fight on to the wire. Inside the final sixteenth, Wildcat Red
still held a narrow advantage over the determined General a Rod, but it was
General a Rod that won the head bob decision.
As the co-second choice, General a Rod returned
$9.60/$5.20/$3.60 and completed the mile affair in 1.35:84. Wildcat Red, who
shared the co-second choice spot, returned $5.20/$4.20. Longshot East Hall
finished third and paid $8.60. Post time favorite Pablo Del Monte rounded out the superfecta, and the order of finish
was completed by Aarons Orient, Enthrone, Gone as Wind, Grand Arrival, and Best
Plan Yet.
By Roman Ruler and out of the Dynaformer mare Dynamite Eyes,
General a Rod improved his record to 3: 2-1-0 and pushed his career earnings to
$102,200. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Hare Forest Farm and is owned by J.
Armando Rodriguez, who purchased General a Rod as a yearling for $72,000 at the
Fasig-Tipton Kentucky 2012 Fall Yearling Sale. Though the next spot for the
colt is still up in the air, trainer Mike Maker stated that he would like to
wheel the colt back in just over 3 weeks for the G3 Holy Bull Stakes.
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