Bolt d’Oro Colt Battles Back to Take WAYI Pilgrim

[Wandering Eyes]

MAJOR DUDE (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Mary Rita, by Distorted Humor) gave his freshman sire a second graded winner on the grass and trainer Todd Pletcher a record fifth GII Pilgrim S. trophy Sunday as he stamped his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf next month. A debut winner at Monmouth June 18, the $550,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling could only manage sixth in the Spa's GIII Sanford S. July 16 and third behind romping stablemate Lost Ark (Violence) when stretched to a mile for Monmouth's Aug. 27 Sapling S. He had posted a couple of breezes over the Belmont turf in preparation for this first foray on the lawn, but was dismissed at 9-1 while looking to help Pletcher defend his Pilgrim title (Annapolis {War Front} won it last year). Away well, Major Dude was reined by hot-handed Irad Ortiz, Jr. into the first turn to sit in a joint third behind a pace that seemed hot enough over the soft going (:24.10, :49.73, 1:15.84). He mounted an outside move to take over at the head of the lane, but was immediately tackled by odds-on Chad Brown pupil I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing). That one seemed to have all the momentum, but Major Dude had the heart and edged away late to prevail by a length in 1:46.60. New York-bred longshot Lachaise (Oscar Performance) was rolling late but ran out of ground and settled for third. Sales history: $550,000 ylg '21 FTSAUG. O-Spendthrift Farm. B-Clearsky Farms (KY). T-Todd A. Pletcher.

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