Major Dude

Major Dude, a Bolt d’Oro colt, won his career debut on dirt June 18, 2022, at Monmouth Park, taking a five-furlong sprint by 3 ¾ lengths. He then ran twice in dirt stakes races at Saratoga and Monmouth, finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes at the Spa and third in the Sapling Stakes back on the Jersey Shore.

Switched to turf for the Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes Oct. 2 at the Belmont at the Big A meet, Major Dude swept to the lead in early stretch and was all out to hold off odds-on favorite I’m Very Busy by length in an impressive performance. Major Dude earned an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with the win. Major Dude subsequently ran ninth in the Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 4 in what was the final start of his 2-year-old season.

Major Dude returned to begin his 3-year-old campaign and made his first start of 2023 in the $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes on Jan. 7 at Gulfstream Park, in which he finished second going one mile on the grass.

Major Dude got back into the winner's circle on Feb. 4, with a victory in the Grade 3 $175,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes at 1 1/6 miles on the turf at Gulfstream Park.  Sent off as the 7-5 favorite in a field of eight, Major Dude went the 1 1/16 miles in a time of 1:40.22 to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

For his next start, Major Dude was switched from turf to synthetic and placed on the Road to the Kentucky Derby when entered in the Grade 3 $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. Sent off as the 8-5 favorite on the tote board in a 10-horse field, Major Dude finished second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks and earned 40 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

With insufficient points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, Major Dude returned to the grass for the $500,000 American Turf Stakes Presented by BMW on the Derby undercard May 6 at Churchill Downs. He closed willingly late to finish third, beaten by just a half-length by winner Webslinger. Major Dude got back in the win column in his next race with a three-quarter-length victory as the 2-5 favorite in the $400,000 Penn Miles Stakes June 2 at Penn National.

Major Dude is trained by Todd Pletcher. He is out of the winning and stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare Mary Rita from an elite female family anchored by third dam (maternal great-grandmother), Hall of Famer Personal Ensign.