Major Dude overcomes Penn Mile trip; Malleymoo wires Penn Oaks

Off a third-place finish in the American Turf (G2) on the Kentucky Derby undercard, Major Dude was the class of the field coming into Friday's $400,000, Grade 2 Penn Mile. The public believed in that class, betting him down to 2-5 in the field of eight. Though 7-2 second choice Behind Enemy lines got the jump in the lane, Major Dude ultimately proved too good in Penn National's flagship race.

Though Major Dude showed pace in the opening furlong, he settled to track behind Recruiter into the first turn, racing just inside of Candidate. Just past the half, Major Dude edged up to engage inside of the pacesetter.

However, that did not last. Behind Enemy Lines rallied quickly to engage outside of Recruiter, while Major Dude was briefly shuffled back to fourth position inside, while Recruiter and Behind Enemy Lines opened up daylight.

Near the quarter pole, Major Dude swung out for another rally. Though Behind Enemy Lines edged to a length lead at the furlong pole, Major Dude engaged him shortly past that mark. Irad Ortiz, Jr. drove Major Dude to the lead with a sixteenth of a mile remaining, and ran on to a 3/4-length victory over Behind Enemy Lines.

Fletcher, a 98-1 outsider who sat toward the rear of the field early, chased on inside for third, 4 1/2 lengths behind the second-place finisher. Recruiter, Movisitor, Candidate, Tuskegee Airmen and Upstate and Back completed the order of finish.

Major Dude paid $2.80 to win. He stopped the timer at 1:33.73 for a mile on turf rated firm. The 3-year-old colt is trained by Todd Pletcher for owner Spendthrift Farm, who purchased the son of their stallion Bolt d'Oro for $550,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select sale in 2021. Major Dude is out of the mare Mary Rita, a Distorted Humor granddaughter of champion Personal Ensign.

The victory in the Penn Mile extended Major Dude's record to 10: 4-2-2 and raised his earnings to $714,895. In addition to the Penn Mile, he also won the Pilgrim (G2) as a juvenile and the Kitten's Joy (G3) this year.

Frontrunning Malleymoo upsets Penn Oaks

One race earlier, 11-1 shot Malleymoo led at every call to win the $150,000 Penn Oaks. With a field scratched down to just five, Malleymoo set a comfortable pace despite being attended by Metaphysical to her outside. Though Metaphysical bid outside Malleymoo on the far turn, Trevor McCarthy kept finding enough from the leader, who dug in and held by 1/2 length.

Princess Bettina, last in the compact field early, chased on for third, 3 1/2 lengths behind Metaphysical. The order of finish was completed by Majestic Creed and 4-5 favorite Royalty Interest. Hidewright Away, Miss New York, Selenaia and Violet Gibson were scratched.

Malleymoo stopped the timer at 1:34.89 for a mile over firm turf and paid $24.20 to win. The 3-year-old filly extended her record to 6: 2-1-0 with earnings of $127,381. This was her first stakes win; her only other victory came in her debut, in in a maiden race at Dundalk on Oct. 7. The daughter of English Channel is trained by Jack Sisterson, who also trains Penn Mile second-place finisher Behind Enemy Lines.