Bolt d’Oro Colt is the Dude in Penn Mile

Spendthrift Farm's MGSW Major Dude (3, c, Bolt d'Oro–Mary Rita, by Distorted Humor) showed his class, overcoming a bit of trouble to gut out victory in the GII Penn Mile S. at Penn National Friday evening. The 2-5 choice looked to bobble slightly coming out of the gate before assuming a tracking spot behind the :23.17 and :47.85 fractions carved out by Recruiter (Army Mule). Tucked in third on the inside, Major Dude made an initial move on the backstretch, easing to within a neck shy of the front before abruptly shuffling back significantly as Behind Enemy Lines (GB) (Sioux Nation) made a bold move to take on and subsequently put away the frontrunner. Major Dude swung out, came on again–this time on the outside–under Irad Ortiz, Jr. to engage Behind Enemy Lines, and asserted himself late to win by three-quarters of a length, getting the turf contest for 3-year-olds in 1:33.73. Second choice Behind Enemy Lines held for second, while 98-1 Fletcher (Blofeld) finished third. Fletcher's trainer, James Lawrence, II, won the Penn Mile last year with Wow Whata Summer (Summer Front).

“We kind of squeezed and shuffled back there on the turn, and Irad got him out in the clear,” said Stu Hampson, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. “Once he found clear running, he did it all himself. He's a really cool horse to be around and obviously a really talented horse. Hopefully, he'll have a big rest of his 3-year-old year.”

The Penn Mile marked the third graded win of Major Dude's career, something not lost on Jack Sisterson, trainer of runner-up Behind Enemy Lines. “You look at the form of [Major Dude], a big favorite. You've got the best trainer [Pletcher] training the horse. Let those guys enjoy the win, and hopefully we'll match up with Major Dude again and have another battle down the stretch.”

Major Dude was by far the most accomplished in the field coming into the Penn Mile and sported the highest Beyer Speed Figures, getting consecutive 90-plus numbers in his last three starts. Last seen finishing third on Derby Day in the GII American Turf S. after a second to eventual GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil's (Hard Spun) in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks on Turfway Park's synthetic Mar. 25, Major Dude won the GIII Kitten's Joy S. in February at Gulfstream. Also winner of the GII Pilgrim S. at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet last October, the $550,000 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate was a stakes-placed winner on dirt before moving to the grass last fall.

Pedigree Notes:

Major Dude is one of three graded winners for sophomore sire Bolt d'Oro, who stands at Spendthrift Farm. The son of Medaglia d'Oro also has six black-type winners, including 2023 GIII Lecomte S. winner Instant Coffee and 2023 Layfayette S. winner Corona Bolt. Like Major Dude, Bolt d'Oro's May 6 Lazaro Barrera S. runner-up Navy Man is also out of a Distorted Humor mare. The current leading U.S. broodmare sire and pensioned WinStar stallion Distorted Humor is responsible for 137 winners out of his daughters.

The Penn Mile winner's dam is a full-sister to the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Lion (Justify), impressive victor of the May 20 Sir Barton S. at Pimlico after a runner-up finish in the Apr. 15 GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. at Keeneland. The two graded stakes-producing full-sisters are out of a winning daughter of legendary Broodmare of the Year and undefeated champion Personal Ensign (Private Account). Major Dude's breeder, Clearsky Farms, picked up Major Dude's dam, Mary Rita, for $230,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. The mare has a juvenile colt named Radio Liberty (Audible), who was acquired for $150,000 at Keeneland September by BSW/Crow Colts Group/Spendthrift Farm/Gandharvi, and a 2023 colt by Charlatan born on Mar. 10.

Friday, Penn National
PENN MILE S.-GII, $400,000, Penn National, 6-2, 3yo, 1mT,
1:33.73, fm.
1–MAJOR DUDE, 122, c, 3, by Bolt d'Oro
               1st Dam: Mary Rita (SP), by Distorted Humor
               2nd Dam: Possibility, by A.P. Indy
               3rd Dam: Personal Ensign, by Private Account
($550,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Clearsky
Farms (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $232,800.
Lifetime Record: 10-4-2-2, $714,895. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
*Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Behind Enemy Lines (GB), 118, c, 3, Sioux Nation–Autumn
Snow (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
(88,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 90,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT;
€173,228 RNA 2yo '22 GOFFDU). O-David A. Bernsen, LLC,
Rockingham Ranch and Talla Racing LLC; B-The Brigadier
Partnership (GB); T-Jack Sisterson. $77,600.
3–Fletcher, 116, c, 3, Blofeld–Missdixieactivist, by Activist.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-James C
Chandley (PA); T-James L. Lawrence, II. $42,680.
Margins: 3/4, 4HF, 1. Odds: 0.40, 3.50, 98.70.
Also Ran: Recruiter, Movisitor, Candidate, Tuskegee Airmen,
Upstate and Back.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs.
VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Sioux Nation Represented By First U.S. Stakes Winner in Cutler Bay

When the markets opened for Saturday's Cutler Bay S. at Gulfstream Park, the tote read 1-9 on the U.S.-debuting Behind Enemy Lines (GB) (Sioux Nation) and the early action proved spot on, as the bay enjoyed a smooth trip and pounced late to become the first American stakes winner–and fifth overall–for his successful young sire (by Scat Daddy).

Last seen dominating a Dundalk all-weather maiden for Joseph O'Brien and previous owner Justin Casse, Behind Enemy Lines was a bit tardy from the stalls, but recovered to race on the back of pacesetting Drinking Problem (Gormley) and nicely covered up down the backstretch. Going comfortably into the final three furlongs, he was steered out and around favored Harry Time (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) nearing the stretch and kicked home smartly to score cozily at final odds of 16-5.

Behind Enemy Lines went through the Tattersalls sales ring on two occasions, selling for 88,000gns as a weanling in late 2020 and for 90,000gns during Book 2 of the auction house's October Yearling Sale the following October. He was among the first group of horses ticketed for the inaugural Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale last March (see below for under-tack video), but was led out unsold on a bid of just over €173,000. He was a well-beaten ninth in a six-furlong grass maiden at the Curragh last August before breaking through last time. Behind Enemy Lines is the second black-type winner to emerge from the 2022 Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up, joining this year's Listed Al Bastakiya S. winner Go Soldier Go (Tapiture).

From the extended female family of Eclipse Award and GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and SW & MGSP Modern News (GB) (Shamardal), the winner is kin to the 2-year-old colt Looking Bere (Fr) (Le Brivido {Fr}) and a yearling colt by Whitecliffsofdover (War Front). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

 

 

CUTLER BAY S., $145,000, Gulfstream, 4-1, 3yo, 7 1/2fT, 1:30.35, fm.
1–BEHIND ENEMY LINES (GB), 118, c, 3, by Sioux Nation
1st Dam: Autumn Snow (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
2nd Dam: Epic Similie (GB), by Lomitas (GB)
3rd Dam: Epitome (Ire), by Nashwan
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (88,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 90,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT; €173,228 RNA 2yo '22 GOFDUB). O-Rockingham Ranch, Talla Racing LLC & David A Bernsen; B-The Brigadier Partnership (GB); T-Jack Sisterson; J-Jose L Ortiz. $87,203. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $94,672.
2–Anglophile, 118, c, 3, English Channel–Trustmore Lovemore, by Kitten's Joy. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O-LFG Racing, LLC; B-Upson Downs Farm & Louie W Wright (KY); T-Brian A Lynch. $28,130.
3–Dunedin, 120, c, 3, Munnings–Faith in Cathy, by Hold Me Back. ($140,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O-NBS Stable; B-Parkway Farm Inc. (KY); T-Kelsey Danner. $14,065.
Margins: 2, NK, 3/4. Odds: 3.20, 16.60, 3.70.

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