Quint’s Brew validated his impressive victory in last month’s Jennings Stakes against Maryland-breds with an equally impressive victory against somewhat stronger company as he dominated Saturday’s $200,000 General George Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths at Laurel Park.
Under Mychel Sanchez, Quint’s Brew took an early position just outside of the pacesetting Prince of Jericho down the backside, and pressed Prince of Jericho through a half-mile in 46.47 seconds. Quint’s Brew began to take command approaching the top of the stretch and glided through the mud in the stretch while maintaining a straight course to the wire.
Celtic Contender, who backed off the early pace to sit third, rallied in the stretch to get second by 2 3/4 lengths over Prince of Jericho. Mr. Antonelli was fourth, followed by Union Fleet and Circle P.
Quint’s Brew, a 4-year-old Maryland-bred gelding by Mosler, covered seven furlongs in the mud in 1:23.76 and returned $3.60 as the odds-on choice. He has now won four of five starts, and is 2 for 2 since being transferred to trainer Ned Allard by owners Paul Berube, Karen Linnell and Heather Hunter.
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In the Jennings, Quint’s Brew was a bit erratic through the stretch, reacting to Sanchez's whip. On Saturday, Quint’s Brew maintained a straighter course as Sanchez was less aggressive with the stick.
“I was impressed with his last start, but he was a little squirrely through the lane,” Allard said in a post-race phone interview with Daily Racing Form. “He was giving it his best and I thought the rider needed to tone it down. He watched the rerun and he agreed that he doesn’t need any more than to be tapped on the neck.
“He ran straight as an arrow today,” Allard added. “He beat a legitimate field today.”
From a handicapping perspective, the biggest concern about Quint’s Brew was that he was running back four weeks after a big effort following a 6 1/2-month layoff.
“I came back a little bit close with him, but I didn’t think he was going to bounce on me because he came out of [the Jennings] like a 2-year-old,” Allard said. “I think he’s got a very bright future.”
Having run two strong races in four weeks, Allard said he may wait to run Quint’s Brew again until April, perhaps in the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter Stakes at Aqueduct.
John Campbell
Allard said he felt good about Quint’s Brew’s chances in the General George after he watched Speedyness win the $100,000 John Campbell Stakes one race earlier on Saturday’s card. Quint’s Brew beat Speedyness by eight lengths when that horse finished fourth in the Jennings.
In the Campbell, Speedyness was sent to the front by Jaime Rodriguez, set splits of 24.74 seconds for the quarter, 49.60 for the half-mile and 1:14.43 for six furlongs while being chased by Offaly Cool. Turning for home, Speedyness cut the corner well, while Offaly Cool drifted a couple of paths wide. Though Offaly Cool tried to rally, Speedyness finished a half-length in front.
Offaly Cool finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of favored Hittheroadjak.
Speedyness, a 4-year-old Maryland-bred gelding by Great Nation owned by Morris Kernan Jr. and Jagger Inc. and trained by Jamie Ness, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.63 over a muddy/sealed track and returned $7 as the second choice. Speedyness won for the seventh time in 17 starts, a record that includes the Miracle Wood Stakes as a 3-year-old.
Rodriguez said the only concern he had was when Speedyness found himself well clear of the competition in the stretch.
“When he doesn’t feel a horse, he just pricks his ears forward like waiting for somebody. I was a little [worried] the last part because he pricked his ears and he slowed down a little bit,” Rodriguez said. “When the outside horse got next to me then he gave me another kick.”
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