Major Dude. (Keeneland Photo)
Keeneland Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Spendthrift Farm’s Major Dude split horses at the sixteenth pole and then drew clear to post a 2-length victory over longtime leader Masteroffoxhounds to win Thursday’s featured $140,000 Gainesway Purse for 3-year-olds and up.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Flavien Prat, Major Dude completed the 1 1/16 miles on a turf course labeled as good in 1:43.46.
A three-time graded stakes winner, Major Dude is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Bolt d’Oro out of the Distorted Humor mare Mary Rita. The victory was worth $83,545 and improved his earnings to $956,257 with a record of 17-6-3-2.
Sent off as the second choice in the field of eight, Major Dude returned $6.74, $3.88 and $3.14. Masteroffoxhounds, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $5.78 and $4.24 and finished a head in front of Harlan Estate, who paid $8.98 to show under Declan Cannon.
Racing continues Friday at 1 p.m. ET with a 10-race program that is highlighted by the $300,000 Sycamore (G3) for marathoners going 1½ miles on the grass. The Sycamore is the ninth race with a 5:16 p.m. post time.
