Major Dude Overcomes Major Trouble to Win Penn Mile
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Photo: Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO
Major Dude wins the Penn Mile Stakes at Penn National Race Course
Major Dude , by Bolt d'Oro , was squeezed out of a cozy spot on the rail on the far turn, dropped off the pace, then circled around the leaders for a hard-earned victory in the June 2 Penn Mile Stakes (G2T) for 3-year-olds at Penn National Race Course.
Under Irad Ortiz Jr., who had been aboard for two previous graded stakes wins on turf, Major Dude raced just off the early pace, settling inside as headstrong Recruiter set early fractions of :23.17 and :47.85. Into the far turn Ortiz and Major Dude had coasted up to within a neck of the front when the presence of two challengers to the outside of Recruiter appeared to cause the leader to move in enough that Ortiz had to quickly back out of his spot, an unwelcome sight to those that had made Major Dude a 2-5 favorite in the meet's richest race, carrying a $400,000 purse.
Recruiter kicked on with Behind Enemy Lines to his outside, suddenly leaving Major Dude with about three lengths to make up, if he could even gather himself for a run. As Ortiz shifted out and took aim on the leaders, Major Dude responded and ranged up within a half-length. The courageous re-rally settled who the best horse was regardless of whether Major Dude had enough left to get by. But when Ortiz asked for still more coming to the one-sixteenth pole, Major Dude accelerated again, finishing three-quarters to the good of Behind Enemy Lines, with 98-1 shot Fletcher up for third.
Major Dude, trained by Todd Pletcher for Spendthrift Farm (where Bolt d'Oro stands), completed the mile in 1:33.73, a stakes record, and increased his earnings to $714,895 from a record of 4-2-2 in 10 starts. The winner paid $2.80.
Video: Penn Mile S. (G2T)
Malleymoo Wires Field in Penn Oaks
Despite showing little speed in her last two starts, the Jack Sisterson-trained Malleymoo rocketed from the gates and took them all the way in the $150,000 Penn Oaks for her first stakes victory.
Malleymoo takes them all the way in the Penn Oaks at Penn National Race Course
Under a shrewd ride from jockey Trevor McCarthy, Malleymoo hugged the fence through easy opening fractions of :24.37 and :49.45 with only Metaphysical , who was tracking in second throughout, to beat as the field turned for home. Heating up the tempo down the lane, the two fillies sprinted for the wire, clocking their final quarter in a sharp :22.08.
Malleymoo ($24.20) prevailed by a half-length under the wire in a final time of 1:34.89 for the mile over a firm turf course.
Metaphysical was second, 3 1/2 lengths clear of Princess Bettina in third.
Campaigned by Rockingham Ranch, David Bersen, Talla Racing, and JWS Racing, the 3-year-old daughter of English Channel improved her record to 2-1-0 from 6 career starts for earnings of $127,381.
Acquired for $112,000 by Magnolia Racing Syndicate at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, she broke her maiden on debut in Ireland as a 2-year-old before being sent back to North America.