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General Election gallops to Arlington Classic win

General Election survived an eventful stretch drive and a claim of foul to prevail by a length in the Grade III $150,000 Arlington Classic — the first leg of the Mid-America Triple — on Saturday.

General Election ran the mile and a sixteenth in 1:45.48 for trainer Kellyn Gorder and jockey Joe Rocco, Jr..

Jockey Rosemary Homeister, Jr., was aboard Gefest and lodged a claim of foul against both the winner and Dorsett, the third-place finisher.

In deep stretch, Gefest, Dorsett and General Election were rallying in tandem. Dorsett appeared to bump Gefest at around the same time contact was made with General Election.

“I felt it hindered my horse more than he hindered others because when they contacted him, it turned my horse’s butt sideways,” said Rocco Jr. “I feel like we were going to draw off from there, but it made him pause. Then he went on from it. I think all the pressure was from the outside.”

The stewards disallowed the claim against General Election but placed Dorsett under jockey James Graham behind Gefest. Finishing in a wide and flying second under jockey Mike Smith was race favorite Admiral Kitten, who completely avoided the contact.

“They went slow that second quarter,” Smith said. “They finally did pick it up, I was able to sit behind and wheel out down the lane. But, again, it hurt me when they slowed it down because I’m out of position, out on the track, and I’m going to have to make a six, seven-wide move and it’s going to be early.”

General Election paid $28.20, $10.40 and $8.20, while Admiral Kitten returned $3.60 and $3.20 and the moved-up Gefest paid $15.60.

Hanshin Cup:Hogy barreled to a 1frac12;-length victory in the Grade III $150,000 Hanshin Cup with Chris Emigh in the irons, covering the mile in 1:34.25.#147;We knew there were a couple of speed horses in it and this race was wide open,#148; Emigh said. #147;I got in the perfect spot where I wanted to be on the outside and he started dragging me turning for home.#148;The win was Hogy#146;s third over Arlington#146;s Polytrack surface and his ninth in 16 starts overall. The $86,400 winner#146;s share boosted his bankroll to $332,800.Mister Marti Gras rallied from well off the pace to finish second, while hammers Terror was third.Send off at odds of more than 8-1, Hogy paid $18.40, $8 and $5. Mister Marti Gras returned $4.40 and $2.60 and Hammers Terror paid $5.60.Arlington Matron:Imposing Grace wore down pacesetter Lotta Lovin and held off fast-closing Sisterhood to win the Grade III $150,000 Arlington Matron by a half-length. With Channing Hill in the irons, Imposing Grace covered the 9 furlongs over Polytrack in 1:50.21.The Matron was the first stakes win for the 4-year-old filly, who previously ran second in the Tiffany Lass and the New Orleans Ladies#146; at the Fair Grounds this winter. Overall, it was her fourth win in 10 starts and the $87,300 winner#146;s share boosted her earnings to $241,320.Imposing Grace paid $19, $9.20 and $5.40. Sisterhood returned $7.60 and $5.20 and Lotta Lovin paid $4.20.

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