General George

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A smart field of nine has entered to contest the $200,000 General George H.
(G2) at Laurel Park on Monday. The five-year-old GATORS N BEARS (Stormy
Atlantic) has not come out victorious from his last four outings, but a return
to the track he calls home could be the perfect remedy. The bay has posted a
stellar 9-4-2-3 mark over this surface which includes a good third-place finish
in the 2004 running of this event. Gators N Bears posted a sparkling four-furlong workout earlier in the week, and top jock Ramon Dominguez will pilot,
only adding to the appeal.

UNFORGETTABLE MAX (Northern Afleet) was a strong closing second in this race
last year, and has since switched trainers twice. The five-year-old bay was last
seen running a decent fourth in the Cigar Mile H. (G1) in November, but has run
well fresh before and could pose a big threat if he’s ready. Harry Vega will
ride for conditioner Guadalupe Preciado.

We’ll go with a big longshot to fill out the trifecta in choosing the
inconsistent HOUSTON’S PRAYER (Houston) to get third. The five-year-old gelding
has been razor sharp in his last pair in New York, and a repeat of either of
those makes him competitive in this fray. This trainer/jockey combination teamed
up for a big upset stakes win last weekend, and may have a chance at another.

DON SIX (Wild Escapade) is the horse to catch and beat, but we feel he is
vulnerable at seven panels and will take a stand against him for the win. The
dark bay has just posted back-to-back lifetime best races and has flourished
since switching to the barn of Scott Lake. However, he has proven to get leg weary going
this far in the past and must deal with a surface he’s completely unaccustomed
to. We recommend his use in all exotic wagers.

SARATOGA COUNTY (Valid Expectations) closed like a freight train to win the
Mr. Prospector H. (G3) last out and is in career form for trainer George Weaver.
The four-year-old colt was the beneficiary of a wicked pace duel in his last,
but will likely not see the same in here and could be left with too much to do
in the latter stages. We still consider the bay a must use on the bottom of all
exotics.

BOCCA AL LUPO (Grand Slam) is making his graded stakes debut here for
Timothy Tullock Jr. The lightly raced five-year-old seems to be in over his
head, but is perfect from five starts over this surface and comes off a career
topping effort. His affinity for the local oval makes him an exotics threat.

PRIVATE HORDE (Brunswick) could get the dream trip in here, getting first run
on the closers from his outside post turning for home. The Grade 2-winning
sprinter was dominant in waxing his opponents in the Forego S. most recently,
but has lacked consistent form over the past two seasons. A good effort by the
bay would not shock us, but we’ll keep his use on the lowest rungs of the
gimmicks.

TASTE OF PARADISE (Conquistador Cielo) ships in from the West Coast for
trainer Gary Mandella. The dark bay captured the Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3) two
back in thrilling fashion, closing fast beneath today’s rider Jose Valdivia Jr.
The rail draw and the inability of this horse to hit the board in three prior
efforts at this distance leans us against this one. NEW YORK HERO (Partner’s
Hero) could add to the pace of the race, but has been winless for some time and
probably doesn’t belong with these.