Slam Notion punches ticket to General George with good work

In order to take down Quint’s Brew again in the $200,000 General George Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday, Robert Bailes said Slam Notion will have to return from a two-month layoff with the best race of his career.

With heavy snowfall and bitter cold keeping the 4-year-old gelding off the track for most of January, Bailes briefly considered pulling the colt out of the race altogether, but a four-furlong workout on Tuesday helped to set the trainer’s mind at ease.

“We lost quite a bit of training with the weather here the last two weeks,” Bailes said Tuesday. “We were going back and forth about even running, but he had a really good work this morning. We feel good about it, so we’ll move forward.”

Bailes said he will continue monitoring Slam Notion’s condition in the coming days, but for now he remains on track to run in the General George. A seven-time winner in 12 career starts, the Maryland-bred wrapped up his 3-year-old campaign with three straight victories, culminating in an upset score over Quint’s Brew in the $100,000 Bender Memorial.

The General George will be the featured race on a four-stakes card that will also include the $200,000 Barbara Fritchie, the first edition of the $100,000 Post Time, and the $100,000 Nellie Morse. With most race dates at Laurel canceled or postponed in the last three weeks due to poor weather, it is expected to mark a momentous return to action at the track.

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