In 1st win since December, Major Dude delivers in Artie Schiller
Major Dude lived up to his 3-5 favoritism with a stalk-and-pounce victory in Saturday in the listed, $150,000 Artie Schiller Stakes, a one-mile inner-turf test for five 3-year-olds and up at the Belmont at Aqueduct fall meet.
Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher for Spendthrift Farm, the 5-year-old son of Bolt d’Oro found the winner’s circle for the first time since taking the Fort Lauderdale (G2) in December at Gulfstream Park. He entered from a fifth in the Mint Millions Invitational (G3) on Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs. That was preceded by three consecutive thirds in stakes company.
Click here for Belmont at Aqueduct entries and results.
Major Dude exited the inside post under Hall of Famer John Velázquez and held his rail position. Big Everest was away quickest from the outermost draw to clear the field and mark the opening quarter-mile in 23.62 seconds over the firm turf. He faced some outside pressure from Horsepower, who was coaxed along by Dylan Davis.
Big Everest was under a snug hold onto the backstretch with Horsepower right on his flank and a gap back to Major Dude, who was keen in the turn. He settled and drifted to the three path as Sand Pipes advanced to his inside through the half-mile in 47.96 seconds.
Major Dude’s move to an outer path set him up for a bid around the top duo. He loomed large into the turn as Sand Pipes was in need of room along the inside, and Horsepower was asked for his best through three-quarters in 1:12.68. Big Invasion clung to a precarious lead into the lane but soon was overtaken by Horsepower. Major Dude gained with every stride, and Otago gave chase down the center of the course.
José Lezcano-piloted Otago continued to make up ground in the final sixteenth, and Horsepower battled on valiantly to the inside, but Major Dude proved best to edge clear to a one-length score with a final time of 1:36.69.
Otago put his nose down for second over Horsepower with Sand Pipes and Big Everest completing the order of finish. Lucky Score and main-track-only entrant Light the Way were scratched.
Stu Hampson, Pletcher’s Belmont Park-based assistant, praised the smart ride from Velázquez, who entered Saturday tied for the lead with nine wins at the Keeneland fall meet where he has already won five stakes races this month.
“We thought we might work out a trip where we’re box-seated and waiting for the right time to pounce,” Hampson said. “Johnny did a great job of getting him in behind horses, and once he got down to the rail and got cover, he switched off a little bit. He looked loaded all the way around there, and when the time was right, he hit go and he went. We’re very happy with the result.”
Velázquez said Major Dude was primed for a strong run once he settled up the backstretch.
“I knew there were two speed horses,” Velázquez said. “My horse got a little bit keen in the first part of the race. When those two horses went, he settled nicely. I had to take a good hold of him. Then I left him alone, because I know he has trouble on this type of ground. He gave me enough to win the race.”
Bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms, Major Dude banked $82,500 in victory while improving his lifetime bankroll to $1,418,747. His 26: 8-4-5 record includes three additional graded victories. He returned $3.46 on a $2 win ticket.