By Mike Kane
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In his second career start Saturday, General Partner (Speightstown) was really ready for prime time at Saratoga Race Course.
While it wasn't exactly a led-from-gate-to-wire performance, General Partner was in front quickly under Manny Franco. He was never seriously challenged and won the seven-furlong maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds a solid four lengths in front of the favorite Dive Bomber (Omaha Beach). Klaravich Stables's chestnut colt reached the wire in 1:22.33.
General Partner debuted for trainer Chad Brown at six furlongs on July 22 and after being prominent early ended up fourth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths.
“We really liked the horse first time out and in hindsight when he came back from running I could see how hard he was blowing. I ran him a couple of works short,” Brown said. “I was eager to run him because he had so much ability and I actually jumped the gun a little bit putting him in.”
With Klaravich owner Seth Klarman watching, General Partner broke his maiden with a flashy performance.
“It all worked out in the end,” Brown said, “because he got a race that he needed and got the last bit of fitness that he needed for a race rather than a couple more works and we were able to run him back at the meet and be successful today.”
General Partner, out of the Distorted Humor mare Fleeting Humor, was bred by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey and the Speightstown Syndicate. He paid $9.30 as the second choice in the wagering.
Brown said he expected General Partner to be on the lead, but not in the way that the race unfolded. He came out of Post 3 a step slow and appeared to brush with the horse to his inside.
“He didn't break that well and Manny made a key decision to go up in the lead,” Brown said. “I'm not sure I actually would have done that when he broke bad because he looked like he was going to be in a nice, cozy stalking spot. Manny used excellent judgement. That was really the difference in the race. He kept him clean the whole way.”
General Partner and Franco turned in split times of 22.74, 45.92 and 1:09.87. Without any real pressure, they got the final eighth in 12.46.
While Brown said a stake might be General Partner's next start, he did not commit to a specific race.
“There's been some really good-looking maidens this meet – I've been very impressed – that aren't mine,” he said. “When you look at a horse like this, you look at a race like the (GI) Champagne S. This year, when you say that, you better know that if these horses all stay healthy this is going to be a real race if some of them end up there. This is not a meet where there's been like one Jack Christopher (Munnings) debut or something like that. There's been a handful of ones I can just think of right now that have been super-impressive to my eye. I'm just happy to have one of them.”
2YO GENERAL PARTNER, by @WinStarFarm stallion Speightstown, wins the 7th easily under @jockeyfranco! #Saratoga pic.twitter.com/OdFJypCTRO
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) September 2, 2023
7th-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 9-2, 2yo, 7f, 1:22.33, ft, 4 lengths.
GENERAL PARTNER (c, 2, Speightstown–Fleeting Humor, by Distorted Humor) finished fourth in what was a loaded maiden special contest July 22 behind well-met Valentine Candy (Justify) but ahead of returning rival Dive Bomber (Omaha Beach), who was crowned the 8-5 favorite between the two. Jostled at the start by an inner horse coming out, he recovered quickly to set a pressured pace from the public's choice to his outside and had taken firm command six furlongs out. Tucking closer to the rail though the bend and bracing for a pair of challengers, he straightened for home with a clear lead heading passed the eighth pole. Despite moving out late from the left hand stick, General Partner came home four lengths best over Dive Bomber. A half-sibling to a fleet of accomplished runners including Seventhfleethumor (Afleet Alex), GSP, $133,785; Naughty Joker (Into Mischief), SW, $176,403; and Cathedral Reader (Shackleford), SP, $174,795, the victor is the first to the races after a couple years of poor breeding fortunes for the mare. His 2023 half-sibling was stillborn and Fleeting Humor was sent to Epicenter for 2024. Sales history: $250,000 Wlg '21 FTKNOV. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $64,050. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey & Speightstown Syndicate (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.
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