General Quarters
Graded Earnings: $595,645
Race Record: 11-3-3-1
Trainer - Thomas R. McCarthy
Jockey - Julien Leparoux
Owner - Thomas R. McCarthy
Breeder - Mr. and Mrs. R. David Randal
Pedigree
General Quarters will try to exorcise three generations' worth of Kentucky Derby (G1) demons that have bedeviled his sire Sky Mesa, grandsire Pulpit and great-grandsire A.P. Indy. Pulpit was the only one of the three who actually ran for the roses, finishing fourth in 1997 and exiting the race with a bone chip. While A.P. Indy was scratched on the morning of the 1992 classic, Sky Mesa's hopes were abandoned because of a nagging foot bruise in mid-March of 2003. The regally bred bay, whose pedigree featured each of the Triple Crown immortals of the 1970s -- Seattle Slew in his direct male line, along with Secretariat and Affirmed -- was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile. Sky Mesa's victories in the Hopeful S. (G1) and Breeders' Futurity (G2) stamped him as a serious prospect before fate intervened. He sustained an ankle injury that ruled him out of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), and then came the hoof trouble that forced him to miss the first half of his sophomore campaign. He returned to action over the summer, placing in both the Dwyer S. (G2) and Haskell Invitational (G1), but it is questionable whether his early promise was ever fulfilled. Sky Mesa has had just two crops to race so far, already compiling an Average Winning Distance of 6.9 furlongs. Headlining his initial crop were the Grade 2-winning fillies Storm Mesa and Skylighter. General Quarters hails from his second crop, along with Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) winner Terrain and Frizette S. (G1) winner Sky Diva.
Out of Ecology (Unbridled’s Song), who was well beaten in her only two starts, General Quarters is from the family of Hall of Fame grass champion Manila (Lyphard), his Irish champion half-brother Stately Don (Nureyev), and French champion Targowice (Round Table). Damsire Unbridled’s Song has been on an unbelievable run the past couple of years. Hero of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Florida Derby (G1) and Wood Memorial S. (G2), Unbridled’s Song was dispatched as the 7-2 favorite in the 1996 Kentucky Derby (G1), he was compromised by foot issues and wound up running in bar shoes, but still turned in a terrific performance to finish fifth. A son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled, Unbridled's Song now ranks as a successful stallion, with an Average Winning Distance of 7.2 furlongs for his progeny. His top performers have excelled at a range of distances. Unbridled's Song is responsible for First Defence, hero of the seven-furlong Forego S. (G1); Thorn Song, winner of the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1); Political Force, who just missed in the Metropolitan H. (G1) before capturing the 1 1/4-mile Suburban H. (G1); Octave, victress of the 1 1/4-mile Coaching Club American Oaks (G1); Unbridled Elaine, successful in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1); the gallant but ill-fated Eight Belles, who finished second to Big Brown in last year's Kentucky Derby; reigning champion juvenile Midshipman; and Old Fashioned, who recently left the Derby trail due to injury.
In addition to General Quarters, Unbridled’s Song is also the broodmare of sire of Derby hopeful Hold Me Back (Giant’s Causeway), the Lane’s End S. (G2) winner who finished second to General Quarters in the Blue Grass.
