Spendthrift Farm's Major Dude, a one-time Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful and among the nation's top 3-year-old turf horses, invades Penn National Race Course June 2 for the $400,000 Penn Mile (G2T).
Winner of the 2022 Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Kitten's Joy Stakes (G3T) this year at Gulfstream Park, the son of Bolt d'Oro was a distant second to eventual Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil's in the March 25 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on a synthetic Tapeta surface, and then returned to finish a close third in the May 6 American Turf Stakes (G2T) on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs.
He ran in the latter race when it appeared he would be an also-eligible in the Kentucky Derby due to being short qualifying points.
"On entry day, we preferred to know we were in the body of the American Turf," Pletcher said. "He's a very solid horse on all surfaces, but, in the end, we know he's best on turf."
Irad Ortiz Jr. will travel to Grantville, Pa., for the ride on 8-5 Major Dude.
Other contenders in the one-mile turf race are stakes winners Behind Enemy Lines and Candidate. The latter traded decisions with Major Dude in two starts in Florida early this year.
"We have met him several times, and he's a nice horse as well," Pletcher said. "Racing could use more rivalries."
Candidate, 5-2 on the morning line, had been most effective on or near the lead until the April 7 Transylvania Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland, where he was sixth.
"It didn't set up well last time at Keeneland," trainer Arnaud Delacour said. "He was a little behind, and he's a free-running horse. We tried to rate a little bit. (The track) was speed-favoring, but it just didn't set up well for him, that's all.
"We gave him a little time since Keeneland, and it looks like he is ready to take a step forward."
Pletcher is also represented in Friday's $150,000 Penn Oaks with Donald Dizney's stakes-winning Princess Bettina, who picks up Flavien Prat in the former California-raced filly's first race for Pletcher.
After winning the March 18 China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita Park for trainer Peter Eurton, the filly was transferred to Pletcher for an East Coast campaign.
"We've had her a little over a month now and got in a couple nice works at Churchill Downs," Pletcher said. "We felt like this was a good spot for her. We'll see how she handles this and possibly stretch her out in other races."
She is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the mile race over Klaravich Stables' Royalty Interest, a 5-2 shot after a debut win for trainer Chad Brown in March at Tampa Bay Downs.
Penn National Race Course, Friday, June 2, 2023, Race 6Entries: Penn Mile S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Movisitor (PA) Adam Beschizza 116 Edward Vaughan 15/1 2 2Major Dude (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Todd A. Pletcher 8/5 3 3Fletcher (PA) Jeiron Barbosa 116 James L. Lawrence, II 20/1 4 4Upstate and Back (PA) Tyler Conner 116 Naoise Agnew 30/1 5 5Recruiter (FL) Jorge Ruiz 116 Cathal A. Lynch 6/1 6 6Tuskegee Airmen (KY) Frankie Pennington 116 John C. Servis 6/1 7 7Behind Enemy Lines (GB) Flavien Prat 116 Jack Sisterson 5/1 8 8Candidate (KY) Trevor McCarthy 122 Arnaud Delacour 5/2
Penn National Race Course, Friday, June 2, 2023, Race 5Entries: Penn Oaks
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Violet Gibson (IRE) Tyler Conner 116 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 8/1 2 2Hidewright Away (KY) Jeiron Barbosa 116 Nicholas Dilodovico 15/1 3 3Malleymoo (KY) Trevor McCarthy 116 Jack Sisterson 8/1 4 4Majestic Creed (KY) Mychel J. Sanchez 116 Bobbi Anne Hawthorne 12/1 5 5Princess Bettina (FL) Flavien Prat 122 Todd A. Pletcher 9/5 6 6Metaphysical (KY) Javier Castellano 116 Jeff A. Hiles 8/1 7 7Miss New York (KY) Samy Camacho 116 Jorge Delgado 12/1 8 8Selenaia (IRE) Isaac Castillo 116 Jonathan Thomas 10/1 9 9Royalty Interest (FR) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 116 Chad C. Brown 5/2
