General a Rod could try turf

ELMONT, N.Y. – General a Rod, who ran in all three Triple Crown races last year and who is a two-time listed stakes winner on dirt, worked four furlongs in 48.80 seconds Sunday morning over the Belmont Park turf course.

It was a solid work, which was done around a trio of orange traffic cones set up to keep workers off the part of the inner turf course where the races are run. John Velazquez was aboard for the move in which General a Rod smoked home the final quarter in 22 seconds.

Trainer Todd Pletcher was impressed enough with the work to consider running him in the Grade 1 Manhattan on Belmont Stakes Day.

“The turf is something they thought about doing for a while,” said Pletcher, referring to the ownership group, which includes Starlight Racing and Skychai Racing. “Pedigree-wise, the bottom side says turf. Based on what we saw this morning, it’ll be something we do. Might swing for the fences and run him in the Manhattan. The mile and a quarter should suit him fine.”

In 2014, General a Rod finished 11th in the Kentucky Derby, fourth in the Preakness, and seventh in the Belmont Stakes. Those were all for trainer Mike Maker.

In two starts this year for Pletcher, General a Rod won the Challenger Stakes at Tampa and was fifth, beaten six lengths by Moreno, in the Charles Town Classic.