General a Rod beat Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) winner Wildcat Red by a head in the Gulfstream Park Derby on New Year's Day. Both will reunite in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
Sent off at odds of 7-2, General a Rod was timed in 1:35.84 in the Gulfstream Park Derby, a one-turn mile that was the colt's first stakes appearance and just his third start overall.
Owned by J. Armando Rodriguez, the Mike Maker-trained General a Rod—by Roman Ruler —will have the services of leading rider Javier Castellano. Both General a Rod and Wildcat Red carry 120 pounds.