Major Dude

Spendthrift Farm's MGSW Major Dude (3, c, Bolt d'Oro--Mary Rita, by Distorted Humor) showed his class, overcoming a bit of trouble to gut out victory in the GII Penn Mile S. at Penn National Friday evening. The 2-5 choice looked to bobble slightly coming out of the gate before assuming a tracking spot behind the :23.17 and :47.85 fractions carved out by Recruiter (Army Mule). Tucked in third on the inside, Major Dude made an initial move on the backstretch, easing to within a neck shy of the front before...

Spendthrift Farm's duo of GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) and GII Jeff Ruby Steaks runner-up Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro) had their penultimate works prior to Kentucky Derby Day when they each breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 Thursday morning at Churchill Downs. The duo clipped through opening eighth-mile fractions of :12.60, :24.40 and :36.20. They galloped out together through six furlongs in 1:13.40. "I think people gave Kingsbarns a discount because of the time of the Louisiana Derby," Spendthrift Farm President Eric Gustavson said. "I don't think you...

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) returned to training Friday morning for his last local work before shipping to Louisville to begin final preparations for the GI Kentucky Derby. Working in company with Bright Future, a 4-year-old son of Curlin, the Derby favorite went a half-mile in :50.28 at Palm Beach Downs for trainer Todd Pletcher, according to Mike Welsch of DRF. "With Forte we were just looking for a nice, easy first work back. He ran in the Florida Derby 13 days ago and...

While the first Saturday in May is still six weeks away, the trail to the GI Kentucky Derby reaches its boiling point in New Orleans Saturday with the conclusion of the Fair Grounds prep series--the GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. One of a pair of Derby points races happening within 20 minutes of one another Saturday, the Louisiana Derby offers 100-40-30-20-10 points and all but guarantees the winner a slot in the gate at Churchill Downs May 6. Currently 10th on the leaderboard--the highest of the runners in the field--Instant Coffee...

Spendthrift Farm's Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro) sat a midfield trip and worked home best of all to record a second victory at the graded level in Saturday's GIII Kitten's Joy S. at Gulfstream Park. Settled in about fifth position early as fellow 10-1 chances Dude N Colorado (GB) (Uncle Mo) and Boppy O (Bolt d'Oro) eyeballed each other through reasonable fractions, Major Dude dropped down onto the fence with about a half-mile to race and traveled well within the grasp of the in-form Irad Ortiz, Jr. as they raced around...

Unbeaten sensation and guaranteed GI Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Flightline (Tapit) put in his final prep for the World Championships at Keeneland Saturday. The 'TDN Rising Star' covered five furlongs solo in 1:00.60 (4/62) shortly after 7:30 a.m. under assistant trainer Juan Leyva. "I told Juan to go in a minute and change and out [seven-eighths] in 1:26, and that's what he did," trainer John Sadler said. "Juan's a great work rider. It was not about going fast today, just getting around there happy today." Flightline arrived at Keeneland Sunday...

While life may provide only a handful of certainties, trainer Todd Pletcher showing up with a powerful battalion of runners on Breeders' Cup Day can be counted on to be one of them. The 2022 renewal of the World Championships, slated for Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland, is shaping up to be no different. Since the beginning of the month, the Hall of Famer has annexed seven Grade I or Grade II races, highlighted by Life Is Good (Into Mischief), winner of the Oct. 1 GI Woodward S. Undefeated in four...

Major Dude gave his freshman sire a second graded winner on the grass and trainer Todd Pletcher a record fifth GII Pilgrim S. trophy Sunday as he stamped his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf next month. A debut winner at Monmouth June 18, the $550,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling could only manage sixth in the Spa's GIII Sanford S. July 16 and was third behind romping stablemate Lost Ark (Violence) when stretched to a mile for Monmouth's Aug. 27 Sapling S. He had posted a couple of breezes...

6th-Monmouth, $56,925, Msw, 6-18, 2yo, 5f, :59.60, ft, 3 3/4 lengths. MAJOR DUDE (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro--Mary Rita {SP}, by Distorted Humor) shipped down to the Jersey Shore following a series of drills at Todd Pletcher's Saratoga base, including a five-furlong bullet in 1:01 1/5 (1/5) over the Oklahoma training track June 3. He wasn't off to the sharpest of beginnings on debut and was scrubbed on early by John Velazquez. The 3-5 favorite chased from an inside fourth and was stuck in some traffic entering the far turn. Johnny...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency PLETCHER PAIR DEBUT AT MONMOUTH 6th-MTH, $57.5K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, 2:30 p.m. Todd Pletcher unveils a pair of juvenile colts in MAJOR DUDE (Bolt d'Oro) and DELEGATED (Uncle Mo). Spendthrift Farm went to $550,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale to acquire Major Dude, who hails from the first crop of their MGISW stallion Bolt d'Oro. The bay is out of SP Mary Rita (Distorted Humor) and his third dam is Hall of Famer Personal Ensign. His Stablemare Delegated is a Repole Stable homebred out...