General Perfect has 'unbelievable' trip to Arlington

General Perfect may have not had the perfect trip in the Grade I Arlington Million last Saturday, but trainer Glenn Thompson said the experience was one he'll never forget.

"It was unbelievable," said Thompson of the stakes-winning General Perfect, who, in 2009, set a track record for 5¬½ furlongs on the turf at Monmouth Park. "It was the best last-place finish I've ever had. Mr. D. (Richard Duchossois) knows how to do it at Arlington. It was an honor to be in the race."

The 8-year-old gelded son of Perfect is owned by Pasquale Vizzoni and won the John McSorley Handicap at Monmouth Park on June 12 for the second consecutive year.

Thompson was pleasantly surprised with how well he and his staff were treated by the people at the Arlington Heights, Ill., racetrack.

"They picked me up at the airport, and they gave me a complimentary rental car and hotel room," said Thompson. "They gave me a beautiful leather suitcase with Arlington Park written across it. Mr. D. does it right. He does it the old school way. It was special."

The New Jersey-bred gelding, who made his five previous starts in New Jersey in 2011, will return to his home base at Monmouth Park. General Perfect has had an excuse in his last three starts, said Thompson.

"He went wide in the (Grade 1) United Nations Handicap (July 2) and the (Grade 3) Oceanport Handicap (July 31, finishing fifth in both races), and the turf course was soft (for the Arlington Million)," said Thompson. "He doesn't like the soft turf."

The veteran performer, who has made 45 starts, will be pointed toward a softer spot, so he can get his confidence back, possibly on New Jersey-bred day if there's a race on the turf, said Thompson.

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