Into Mischief’s General Jim takes Swale S. (G3) for first added-money score
February 4, 2023
General Jim takes the G3 Swale S. at Gulfstream Park – Nicole Thomas photo
General Jim’s Swale S. (G3) win at Gulfstream Park kicked off what would be a trio of graded stakes winners, all in Kentucky Derby (G1) preps, on Saturday for reigning champion sire Into Mischief.
Later in the day, Rocket Can annexed the Holy Bull S. (G3), also at Gulfstream Park, while Newgate would win the Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
The trio are half of the six stakes winners in 2023 for Into Mischief, who is in his familiar spot atop the General Sire list.
In the seven furlong Swale, General Jim settled along the fence nicely while Super Chow spend through a quarter-mile in :22.69. Super Chow was up four lengths going into the turn, but by the time they straightened for home, General Jim was within a length of the leader.
That margin evaporated just inside the eighth pole as General Jim surged to the lead and went on to win by a length in 1:22.34 on a fast track.
“Definitely the race came up perfect for him,” said winning rider Luis Saez. “We know we have plenty of speed. We just tried to break from there running and find a great spot. We had a pretty good trip and, man, when we came to the top of the stretch, I had a lot of horse and he just kept going.”
“He’s developing now,” said winning trainer Shug McGaughey when asked about stretching out in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) on March 4. “He’s grown and kind of filled out. “He’s gained weight. He’s got a little bit more weight to go, so I’m going to let him do that.”
With the win, General Jim is 3-0-2 in six starts and has earned $231,533 for Courtlandt Farms LLC. The bay colt was bred in Kentucky by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock and Centerline Breeding.
Pedigree notes from the TDN
Pedigree wise, General Jim has a lot going for him, a point underscored by his $850,000 price tag at the 2021 Keeneland September. He is out of SP Inspired by Grace, who is a full-sister to GI Mother Goose S. heroine Off The Tracks and a half to dual graded stakes winner Concord Point. Adding further padding to the page, granddam Harve de Grace is a half to MGSW and GISP Tasha’s Miracle. Inspired by Grace produced a filly by Authentic last season and was bred back to the champion.