General Shipman became a Stakes winner in just his second start with a sharp gate-to-wire victory in the six-furlong Prairie Meadows Freshman Stakes on Saturday, 26 August.
The two-year-old colt by Midshipman, who races as a homebred for Jason Cline, broke sharply from the gate under journeyman jockey, Ken Tohill. After vying briefly with Whatdoyouthinkmark after the start, General Shipman then took over the lead and set the pace up the backstretch as he saved ground along the inside rail.
General Shipman maintained a one-length advantage through the far turn before spurting away from the field at the top of the stretch, then continued to maintain his lead while receiving a few reminders from his rider late, as Dawson’s Storm and Good Like Magic began cutting into his lead. General Shipman held clear at the wire, finishing ahead of Dawson’s Storm by three-quarters of a length.
Bred in Nebraska by his owner, General Shipman is out of Impish, by Into Mischief. Second dam Perceive (A.P. Indy) is a half-sister to Multiple Graded Stakes winners Etched (G2 Meadowlands Cup, G2 Monmouth Cup), Emotionless (G2 At the Races Champagne Stakes) and Out of Bounds (G3 Sham Stakes), and is out of G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner, Unbridled Elaine.
General Shipman continues the recent hot streak of juvenile Stakes winners this summer for his sire. In addition to this Stakes winning colt, Midshipman is represented by the talented juveniles Amidst Waves, already a two-time Stakes winner of the Listed Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga and the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park, and Ship Cadet, who wired the field when taking the Skidmore Stakes, also at Saratoga. Another juvenile, Call Me Andy, is two-time Stakes-placed so far this year. Among older runners, Midshipman is well-represented by two-time Stakes winner Soft Talk and Chilean Triple Crown winner, Fortino.
