Major Dude becomes Bolt d’Oro’s first millionaire in dramatic Fort Lauderdale S. (G2)

Surging between the narrowest of openings in deep stretch, Major Dude took the $215,000 Fort Lauderdale S. (G2) Dec. 21 at Gulfstream Park by a neck in a three-way photo.

With the winner’s share of the purse, Major Dude became racing’s newest millionaire and the first for his sire Bolt d’Oro. Major Dude is one of a half-dozen stakes winners, three of them graded, this year for his top-five Third-Crop sire.

Saturday’s win in the 1 1/8-mile turf affair was decided in the final strides. Major Dude broke on top, then settled in behind horses and was under a light hold by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. behind a half-mile in :47.98. Around the final turn and into the stretch, Major Dude was bottled up with no space to move in front of him. When a very slim opening appeared inside the final furlong, he burst through and outran Fort Washington and Win for the Money to secure the victory in 1:45.73 on the firm turf.

“Before the quarter pole, I probably had a chance to go around but we think he likes it between horses,” said Ortiz. “He’s very game. I went for it and thank God it worked out perfect because otherwise I would be so sad, getting beat with these horses, because he was ready. He deserves a lot of credit. He deserves more credit than me.”

Major Dude, who is owned by Spendthrift Farm, now has four graded stakes wins and has earned $1,075,297 from a record of 7-3-2 in 18 starts.

“We’ve been pointing for this [race] to hopefully set him up for the Pegasus Turf (G1, Jan. 25 at Gulfstream). That’s what we were hoping for,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “I think he ran well enough to give that a try.”

The winner was bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms.