Switch to Turf Pays Off for General Jim at Saratoga

It's not unusual to see a high-priced yearling purchase switch from dirt to turf in its second career start. 

Turf is typically viewed as Plan B for when an initial try on dirt does not follow the expected script.

But when that move from dirt to turf follows a promising debut on the main track, it could be a tell-tell sign that the grass might indeed be greener for that runner.

That was certainly the case Sept. 3 when Courtlandt Farms' General Jim  made his second career start on turf after finishing third on dirt in his Aug. 13 debut behind Sept. 5 Hopeful Stakes (G1) entrant Bourbon Bash . The change proved to be a masterful stroke by Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey as the son of Into Mischief   posted a neck victory in a $105,000 maiden race that opened the final Saturday card of the Saratoga Race Course meet.

"He ran better on dirt than it showed, but I think he's better on turf," McGaughey said. "I breezed him on the turf, and I thought he did well on it. He has some grass on his dam's side. He's still a little green, but once we straighten that out, he might run farther later on. At least if it rains, we can run him on the main track."

Ridden by Luis Saez, General Jim covered the 1 1/16 miles on the firm inner turf course in 1:44.51 and paid $9.50 to win as the second choice in a field of nine.

McGaughey said he would ideally like to run the Into Mischief colt back in an allowance race, but if one is not carded, he might opt for a stakes such as the Oct. 2 Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

By Spendthrift Farm's elite stallion, General Jim was bred by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock and Centerline Breeding out of the Curlin   mare Inspired by Grace . The fourth foal and first winner from his dam, he sold for $850,000 from the Indian Creek consignment at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Inspired by Grace also has a 2022 filly by Authentic.

Treadway Racing Stable's Fly Right , a son of Astern   trained by Leah Gyarmati, was second in the Saturday opener by a half-length over Erdenheim Farm's Scramble , a Gleneagles  colt trained by Barclay Tagg.

Donald Adam's Courtlandt Farms wound up sweeping the daily double with a pair of six-figure yearlings as Powerful  took the second race by a half-length.

The 2-year-old son of Nyquist   was bred by Parks Investment Group out of the Pulpit  mare Antiquity  and was bought for $525,000 from the Paramount Sales consignment at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, he was second in his July 23 debut and was sent off as the 3-5 favorite, paying $3.20 after covering the seven furlongs in 1:23.58 for jockey Jose Ortiz in the $105,000 maiden special weight test.

Powerful is the third and most recent foal from Antiquity and her third winner.

Robert LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, and Madaket Stable's Tapit's Command (Tapit  ) was second in his debut for trainer Brad Cox and Jay Em Ess Stable's Full Moon Madness  (Into Mischief), trained by Michelle Nevin, was a length back in third while making his second start.