By Christina Bossinakis
Charting a consistent if unremarkable course heading into Saturday's GIII Claiborne Swale S. at Gulfstream, Courtlandt Farms' General Jim (Into Mischief) turned things up a notch, exploding from off the pace to collar favored Super Chow (Lord Nelson) late en route to a one-length score. Sent off the 8-5 second choice behind 4-5 choice Super Chow, already a three-time stakes winner, the Shug McGaughey trainee broke awkwardly from his inside draw, but was quickly straightened out by regular pilot Luis Saez as Super Chow ran up to contest the early pace with Two of a Kind (Overanalyze). As the duo cut out a legitimate opening quarter in :22.69, Super Chow spurted clear of Two of a Kind, and was three lengths ahead of that rival through a :45.31 half. Meanwhile, General Jim moved up on even terms with Two of a Kind around the 5/16ths, but began to unfurl his long legs approaching the quarter pole. Gaining quickly on a wide-cornering Super Chow turning for home, the $850,000 Keeneland September graduate bore down on the pacesetter in the final furlong, took over late to earn his first taste of black-type by a length. Super Chow was a clear second over Two of a Kind.
“Definitely the race came up perfect for him,” said Saez. “We know we have plenty of speed. We just tried to break from there running and find a great spot. We had a pretty good trip and, man, when we came to the top of the stretch, I had a lot of horse and he just kept going.”
In regard to getting blinkers for the first time Saturday, Saez added, “I know Mr. Shug was saying he was going to put on the blinkers, and we've been working in the morning with the blinkers, and he was magnificent. Today, the plan was to have a target in front and just wait to the end and let him run. He did it by himself, so it was pretty good.”
According to McGaughey, the Mar. 4 GII Fountain of Youth S. “is not out of the question.”
“He's developing now,” he said. “He's grown and kind of filled out. He's gained weight. He's got a little bit more weight to go, so I'm going to let him do that.”
Third in his career bow sprinting six panels on the dirt at Saratoga last August, General Jim appreciated the extra yardage and the move to the turf next time, scoring by a neck going 8 1/5 furlongs in September. Back in the winner's circle following a Keeneland allowance in October, he finished third in the one-mile Central Park S. at the Big A Nov. 26 before coming home fourth last time in Gulfstream's Mucho Macho Man S. Jan. 1.
Pedigree Notes:
Pedigree wise, General Jim has a lot going for him, a point underscored by his $850,000 price tag at the 2021 Keeneland September. By the nation's leading sire Into Mischief, he is out of a SP Inspired by Grace (Curlin), who is a full-sister to GI Mother Goose S. heroine Off The Tracks and a half to dual graded stakes winner Concord Point (Tapit). Adding further padding to the page, granddam Harve de Grace (Boston Harbor) is a half to MGSW and GISP Tasha's Miracle (Harlan's Holiday). The 2021 foal out of the 12-year-old dam subsequently died, however, she produced a filly by Authentic last season and was bred back to the champion.
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
CLAIBORNE FARM SWALE S.-GIII, $125,000, Gulfstream, 2-4, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.34, ft.
1–GENERAL JIM, 120, c, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Inspired by Grace (SP, $138,984), by Curlin
2nd Dam: Harve de Grace, by Boston Harbor
3rd Dam: Ms. Cuvee Napa, by Relaunch
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($850,000
Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Courtlandt Farms, LLC (Donald Adam);
B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock & Centerline Breeding (KY);
T-Claude R. McGaughey III; J-Luis Saez. $77,500. Lifetime
Record: 6-3-0-2, $231,533. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Super Chow, 120, c, 3, Lord Nelson–Bonita Mia, by Warrior's
Reward. ($70,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $75,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR).
O-Lea Farms, LLC; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Jorge
Delgado. $25,000.
3–Two of a Kind, 120, c, 3, Overanalyze–Freud's Irish Miss, by
Freud. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-K and R Racing Stable and
Town Branch Racing; B-C. W. Swann & Wetherbee Holdings,
LLC. (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. $12,500.
Margins: 1, 11, 3HF. Odds: 1.60, 0.80, 5.10.
Also Ran: Keanu, Aaraj. Scratched: King Sparrow.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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