Bolt d’Oro’s Major Dude tallies second graded victory

Major Dude, winner of last year’s Pilgrim S. (G2), collected his second graded stakes win Saturday at Gulfstream Park with a 1 ½-length win in the $175,000 Kitten’s Joy S. (G3).

The 3-year-old son of Bolt d’Oro is the second stakes winner of the new year for his sire. After topping last year’s Freshman Sire list, Bolt d’Oro is the early leader among his peers in 2023 with three stakes horses and nine individual winners.

Major Dude, with jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., broke well between horses and was fourth going into the first turn. He settled in fifth along the rail as the field made its way through a half-mile in :47.24. With three furlongs to run, Ortiz shifted off the fence and came three-wide into the stretch to make his move for the lead. He took command with a furlong to go and won going away in 1:40.22 on a good turf course.

“He’s a super nice colt, very consistent,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “I’ll talk to the guys at Spendthrift. We’re kicking around the idea of putting him on the dirt at some point. We’ll see when that opportunity comes up.”

Owned by Spendthrift Farm, Major Dude is 3-1-1 in seven starts and has earned $300,095. His last four starts, all stakes races, have been on the turf.

Major Dude was bred by Clearsky Farms and sold to Spendthrift for $550,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale.