Chelsea Durand Photo

General Ken gets up in final jumps to win thrilling edition of Awad

by Brian Bohl

Louis Lazzinnaro and Michael Dubb’s General Ken didn’t lead at any point in the race until the shadow of the wire, when the Violence colt overtook pacesetter Geno from the outside in the final jumps to win by a nose in Friday’s $100,000 Awad for juveniles going 1 1/16 miles on Belmont Park’s Widener turf course.

General Ken, the 4-5 favorite, tracked in third position as 17-1 selection Geno led the six-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 24.57 seconds, the half in 49.56 and three-quarters in 1:13.82 over firm going.

Jockey Jorge Vargas, Jr. kept Geno to task to the inside when straightened for home, continuing to lead into the final sixteenth. But General Ken, under rider Dylan Davis, rallied furiously, first bypassing Royal Spirit before setting his sights on Geno. With a strong turn-of-foot in the final 50 yards, General Ken made his move just in time, hitting the wire in 1:43.76 to improve to 2-for-2 in his career and winning his first start for trainer Chad Brown.

In his debut for then-trainer Jose Ramirez, General Ken went gate-to-wire for a 7 1/4-length victory on September 15 at Delaware Park. Davis, aboard General Ken for the first time, said the strategy entering his second race was to follow a similar path.

“Our plan was to do it similar to his maiden win in coming up on the lead and taking it from there,” Davis said. “We tried to come out running, though the rider out-broke me the first couple of jumps and were able to take control early. I had to change the plan up and he handled it well. He was still on it and he handled it maturely. It took a little bit to get it going, but once at the eighth pole, he had clear sailing and he took off and was just getting started. Thanks to Chad Brown and everyone for giving me the opportunity.

“He’s a great horse and I think he’ll have the ability to step up after this one,” Davis added.

General Ken paid $3.80 on a $2 win wager. He more than tripled his career earnings to $77,800. He was bred in Kentucky by Erik R. Johnson.

“Everybody was telling me he was going to be the lone speed going to the lead, so I thought he would be on the lead, but I guess the other horses broke a little quicker than he did and he had to change gears, but he did a great job,” said co-owner Lazzinnaro. “It’s been exiting so far with him and we’ll see what happens going forward.”

Geno, owned by Mendham Racing Stable and trained by David Donk, who conditioned the race’s namesake in Awad [who won 14 races in 70 starts from 1992-98 with four Grade 1 scores], finished one length clear of Daunt for second.

Royal Spirit, Ohtwoohthreefive and Artie’s Angel completed the order of finish.

Live racing resumes Saturday at Belmont Park with a 10-race card that includes four stakes, starting with the Grade 3, $150,000 Turnback the Alarm for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 1 1/8 miles on the main track and also including the $200,000 Mohawk for New York-bred 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf; the $100,000 Chelsey Flower for 2 year-old fillies contesting at 1 1/16 miles on the turf; and the $100,000 Stewart Manor for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the inner turf. First post is 12 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.