The world of horseracing is full of lightning-quick instances. Of moments where a dark horse bursts forth and captures the hearts of fans. In next week’s General George Stakes, 4-year-old Quint’s Brew might do exactly that. His trainer, Ned Allard, is not keeping his expectations a secret after his six-length win in the Jennings Stakes. His new racehorse is more than a new face in the pack—he is Maryland’s potential next up-and-comer.
However, every race is a gamble. With four career starts, limited stakes exposure, and a move up to open company after a Maryland-bred restricted race, Quint’s Brew is in for his toughest assignment to date. But his trainer’s belief is unshakeable, and the horse’s rapid improvement suggests that he’s a long way from his ceiling. “I was also impressed with his last race,” Allard said. “I thought he would do well. I didn’t know what ‘well’ was going to be because I hadn’t ever raced him. He ran a monster race that day—he looks like he’s got a great future ahead of him.”
Few horses in such a brief period of time have caused such a buzz as Quint’s Brew has done. In just four career attempts, he has already become one of Maryland’s most promising prospects. In his breakout race at Jennings Stakes, he came home a six-length winner over his rivals at 9-1 odds, registering a career-high 137 HRN Speed Figure. Such a performance has made it impossible to ignore him in the General George Stakes even though his opposition is going to be a great deal more serious.
Despite his rapid rise, his career has not been without blemish. His first stakes exposure came in the Star de Naskra Stakes, in which he was a runner-up. It was a tough ride, having to navigate traffic in the initial going before making his move late in the race. The two other victories, a six-furlong maiden special weight race and a one-mile allowance race, each showcased different aspects of his talent—his speed, his willingness to settle in up close, and his finishing kick in the lane. All of these efforts have set him up as a promising candidate, but moving up to an open company is a different matter.
Whenever a horse is coming off of a career-best effort after a layoff, there is always the worry of regression, also referred to as the “bounce effect.” Allard is not worried, though. “From his training and his demeanor, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem,” he said. “I’m expecting him to run great on Saturday. He’s trained great, coming off a great race, just cross our fingers.”
The challenge of the General George Stakes
The General George Stakes, a Grade 3 race in the past, lost its graded status this year, but its $200,000 purse is a great incentive. The competition this year will pose a stiffer challenge for Quint’s Brew. Compared to the Jennings Stakes, in which there was a field of just Maryland-bred horses, the General George Stakes pits him in a field of some of the toughest in the region.
Among the favorites is Celtic Contender, a multiple stakes winner, in his best form as of late. His triumph in the Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial came after a decisive late surge, and his team feels that he has peaked at just the right time. Also in contention is Prince of Jericho, a front-run specialist who won the Fire Plug Stakes at Laurel Park. The fact that he is capable of a brisk pace is a concern, as is his background at this same venue. Mr. Antonelli, a stakes newcomer, is yet another racehorse of interest, while Union Fleet, the most experienced of the group, is seeking his first win in close to ten attempts.
Given the class of the race, Quint’s Brew will receive a whole new level of exposure. His past performances suggest that he is likely to be one of the favorites—a long way from his outsider status in the Jennings Stakes. The altered expectations will put even more pressure on the horse and trainer, making it a career-defining moment, regardless of the outcome.
While Quint’s Brew is in the news, his trainer’s revival is a story to be told. With a career total of more than 16,500 starters, 2,809 victories, and more than $43 million in earnings, Ned Allard is a name that is synonymous with longevity. In more recent years, however, his appearances in high-stakes races have been fewer in number. With Quint’s Brew now a stakes contender, Allard has a chance to remind everyone that he is a force to be contended with in horseracing circles once again.
Bringing horses up to stakes status has been Allard’s trademark, and if Quint’s Brew is a repeat performer, it would be just one more addition to his already remarkable career. With the General George Stakes marking a potential turning point, there is something to prove for both horse and trainer. If Quint’s Brew can win again in a convincing style, the door to better races—and even a career in graded stakes—is wide open. The question is, will Quint’s Brew meet the challenge, or will inexperience get in his way? Either way, when the gates open at Laurel Park, all eyes will be on him.
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