During the television coverage of the G1 Toyota Blue Grass S. the story of GENERAL QUARTERS was stated best when a comment hit the airwaves which said, "This isn't Cinderella we're talking about...this is Rocky Balboa meets Apollo Creed..."  The horse that everyone had written off shortly after his shocking win the G3 Sam F. Davis has reemerged a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender and perhaps the sentimental Derby favorite. 

GENERAL QUARTERS was a horse overlooked from the get go.  A Paramount Sale graduate, he sold for a lack luster $20,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.  His current owner, Tom McCarthy confessed earlier in the season, he just didn't like how he walked into the ring and passed on him, leaving him to be purchased by Ramsey Farm.  But undaunted, Tom McCarty dropped a claim in for the strong son of SKY MESA and walked away with the colt.  The rest is quickly becoming the story sweeping the country with a former principal, now horse trainer, Tom McCarthy the owner of a one horse stable heading for the Kentucky Derby after a strong win in the G1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. 

After breaking reasonably sharply, GENERAL QUARTERS was never far back.  He sat outside an honest pace, stalking the leaders until about the half mile pole.  Eibar Coa had handfuls of horse along the entire backstretch, and when asked, GENERAL QUARTERS bounded away with authority. 

Paramount would like to once again congratulate all the connections to racing's Rocky Balboa, GENERAL QUARTERS.  Congratulations to breeders David and Marylyn Randal, owner and trainer Tom McCarthy, and interim trainer, Mark Miller.  Best of luck on Kentucky Derby Day!

Read: The Thoroughbred Times; The Blood-Horse, TDN; Herald-Leader Photos;

Having sold many horses that went on to be top contenders for the classics, Paramount has yet another graduate taking up the mantle toward the Kentucky Derby.  GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa - Ecology by Unbridled's Song) won the G3 Sam F. Davis Feb. 14th to propel himself into the fray for the first Saturday in May.  The gray son of SKY MESA had been knocking on the door all winter at Tampa Bay Downs running second in both the Pasco and the Inaugural Stakes.  The first foal out of ECOLOGY improved with each race, and taking the blinkers off for the first time, sat just off the pace in the early part of the race, and made a bold move in the turn to power home by three and a half lengths.  Congratulations to owner Tom McCarthy, trainer Mark Miller and breeders Dave and Marylyn Randal.

More:  Blood-Horse; DRF; TDN; Thoroughbred Times,

Both won their Breeders' Cup divisions at Santa Anita in 2008.  CONDUIT and FOREVER TOGETHER, the latter a Paramount Graduate, were subsequently awarded the Eclipse in each of their categories for 2008. CONDUIT has special connections to Paramount's Liz Reynolds, whose father is the general manager of Ballymacoll Stud. Paramount would like to congratulate all of the connections of both of these champions.

(More from DRF)

Paramount wants to offer special congratulations to the connections of Breeders' Cup Turf winner CONDUIT.  A brilliant three-year-old in Europe this year, CONDUIT came to the U.S. to command the Santa Anita turf winning the 25th running of the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf. 

Owned by Ballymacoll Stud and trained by Sir Michael Stoute, CONDUIT's connections also include the father of Paramount Sales own Liz Reynolds, who manages Ballymacoll in Ireland.  Anyone who has done business with Paramount Sales could hardly have done it without directly working with Liz.  CONDUIT adds another Breeders' Cup to Ballymacoll's history after ISLINGTON's win the 2003 Filly and Mare Turf.  Certainly CONDUIT's victory is as sweet to the farm and the trainer as it was to Mr. Reynolds and his daughter Liz.  Congratulations to you all and we wish you a bigger and better 2009!

Click here to view the Breeders' Cup official link.