General a Rod Set for Return From Layoff

Among the prominent 3-year-olds based in Florida last winter, General a Rod begins his 4-year-old campaign Jan. 14 at Gulfstream Park well rested since competing in all three legs of last year's Triple Crown.

 

Unraced since finishing seventh in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) last June, General a Rod drew post five of eight in Wednesday's eighth race, a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance on the main track.

            

"We had to get started somewhere, so we figured we'd try to capitalize on his allowance condition," trainer Mike Maker said. "It should be a good steppingstone for him."

            

General a Rod opened last year with a head victory over Wildcat Red in the Gulfstream Park Derby on New Year's Day, then ran second by the same margin to that rival in the Fountain of Youth (gr. II) and third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Florida Derby (gr. I).

            

From there, General a Rod was 11th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and fourth by eight lengths in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) prior to the Belmont, where he joined California Chrome and Ride On Curlin as the only horses to run in all three Triple Crown races last year.

            

"It did take a lot out of him," Maker said of the son of Roman Ruler  . "He looked like he needed a freshening after the Belmont, so we just gave him all the time he needed."

            

General a Rod returned to Maker in South Florida late last year and has been working steadily for his return with eight timed breezes over Gulfstream's main track, including back-to-back bullet five-furlong works on December 13 and 20. Most recently, he went four furlongs in :50.66 on Jan. 10. 

            

"He hasn't missed a beat since he's been back," Maker said. "The freshening did him well, and he looks great. He didn't really change much. I would have expected him to be a little bigger, but he was mature as a 3-year-old and just kind of stayed the same, which is fine by me."

            

This will be the first race under a mile for General a Rod since his debut on the Polytrack at Keeneland in October 2013, where he won by 2 3/4 lengths going seven furlongs. He was second to Conquest Titan in a one-mile optional claiming allowance at Churchill Downs to end his juvenile season.

 

"I think he needs a bit further, but we started him off in a maiden race at seven furlongs and he got the job done," Maker said. "Hopefully, we can do that in his comeback race."

            

Pending the outcome, Maker said he could consider the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) on Feb. 7 at Gulfstream, the first major stakes of the year for older horses.

            

"I'd love to make the Donn if he's good enough," Maker said. "If not, we'll take a softer approach and go from there. We know he likes it here."