Las Vegas, NV – Laurel Park, located just outside Laurel, Maryland will play host to the Grade 3 General George Handicap this President’s Day Monday, February 17. Horses three years old and upward will be after their share of the $250,000 purse when they go seven furlongs on Laurel Park’s dirt track.
The General George Handicap has attracted a field of eight to go in race 9 on Laurel Park’s Monday card. Post time is 4:24 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all nine entries for this Grade 3 stakes.
Palace – Linda Rice pupil has been very good as of late – four wins and two seconds in the last seven starts. He is coming off a pair of seconds in minor stakes action at Aqueduct – the Gold and Roses Stakes last time out January 16 and the Gravesend Handicap December 21. This after his career highlight – a win in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct November 28 and another pair of minor stakes scores. Palace has placed in 14 of 16 career starts with eight wins and enters this weekend on a roll – looking for his second straight graded stakes score. He will carry the top weight of 120 pounds and will have regular rider Cornelio Velasquez in the saddle from post 6.
Broad Rule – defending third place finisher in this race won the minor Fire Plug Stakes for the second straight year here last time out January 4 – his first win since April. This after a fourth in the Gravesend Handicap at Aqueduct December 21 and a pair of thirds in minor stakes action – the Damitruis Stakes in September and the Hockessin Stakes in July – both results at Delaware Park. His last graded stakes action came in May – a sixth in the Grade 3 Maryland Spring at Pimlico. He is expected to give Palace a run for his money Monday and will line up in gate 2.
Service For Ten – multiple stakes winner steps up in graded stakes company for the first time Monday. He has 12 career starts on this track and has place in all but one – the City of Laurel Stakes in December, 2012. Service For Ten is coming off a second behind Broad Rule in the minor Fire Plug Stakes January 4 after a win in the Dave’s Friend Stakes November 16, a third in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash in September and a win in the minor Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial at Delaware Park in August – his only start away from Laurel Park. Service For Ten will break from post 4 for trainer Emanuel Geralis.
Javerre – defending champion in this race has placed in two of seven starts since – a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Parx in August and a third in the minor Harrison E. Johnson Memorial on this track last March. He is coming off a sixth in the minor Native Dancer Stakes on this track January 25 and last raced in graded stakes company in August – a sixth in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga. Javerre hasn’t been great lately but as a former champion in this race is worthy of mention.
Tenango – David Jacobson trained gelding will race in graded stakes company for just the second time in his 22 race career – the first being a sixth in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens June 8 at Belmont Park. He enters having placed in his last three starts however – all Allowance Optional Claiming at Aqueduct. Last time was a win January 18 after a third December 28 and a second December 8. He has four wins, eight seconds and four third place finishes but last placed in a stakes race in May – a second in the minor Gygistar Stakes at Belmont Park. Tenango breaks from the far outside post in decent form.
General George Handicap betting at Laurel Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Warrioroftheroses – had some success at Delaware Park in 2013 – an Allowance score in July and a second in the minor DTHA Governors Day Stakes in September but has placed in one of his last three starts – all on this track. Last time out was a fourth after leading in the Native Dancer which followed a third in the Fire Plug Stakes January 4 and another fourth in the Broad Brush Stakes December 7. A cut back in distance could be exactly what Warrioroftheroses needs as he leaves from the rail Monday.
Smash and Grab – will race in graded stakes company for the first time Monday but has won two straight Allowance Optional Claiming races on this track ahead of the General George – last time out January 4 and December 4 as well. He did have a win and a pair of seconds this summer in minor stakes action and has placed in seven of nine starts the last seven months.
Well Spelled – won the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth in July, 2012 and also had a win in the minor Gallant Bob Stakes in September, 2012 but has just two starts since – a fifth in the minor Teddy Drone Stakes at Monmouth July 28, 2013 and a fourth last time out in the minor Fire Plug Stakes on this track January 4. He has placed in 10 of 13 career starts but has just two starts since September, 2012.
Bandbox – has four wins, four seconds and a third place finish in 13 career starts – his best result being a third in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Handicap at Pimlico May 19. He also had a win in the minor Private Terms Stakes on this track in March and a second here February 26, 2013 in the minor Miracle Wood Stakes. Bandbox has been a tad inconsistent lately but does have two wins, a second and a third place finish in four starts on this track.
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