Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Ocala Stud Farm's Kantharos enjoyed a sensational season in 2015, his second crop earnings reaching $1,780,874. No other Florida second-cropper even made it to $900,000. But, as good as Kantharos was last year, he's destined to be overshadowed this season by Double Diamond Farm's First Dude.
The son of Stephen Got Even was the leading Florida freshman sire last year with 16 winners and $997,148, buoyed by a registered foal crop of 98. This year, he has another 97 ready to roll, and he's already produced 36 winners from 70 starters and progeny earnings of $1,275,768. With more than 5 1/2 months remaining, and 125 colts and fillies who haven't reached the track yet, he's a cinch to go well over $2 million, a remarkable feat for a Florida stallion. Not close to the late Wildcat Heir, who racked up nearly $4.6 million in 2010, but a special year, anyway. And it's not too late for First Dude to go well beyond that with a little bit of luck.
In a span of 16 days since July 3, First Dude has picked up eight winners, five of them 3-year-old first-timers, plus having the 2-year-old filly Demigoddess finish third in the $125,000 Landaluce Stakes. And only two of the five won at Gulfstream, the other three came at Parx, Presque Isle and Penn National. Three allowance winners came at Belmont Park, Parx and Indiana Grande.
The winner at Penn National only came in a $5,000 claimer, but the effort was so stunning it needs to be noted. Foxy Gator, a 3-year-old bred by Double Diamond, stumbled at the start of a 1 mile and 70-yard maiden race, recovered and went after the leaders, went three wide on the turn, and pulled away under Erika Strunk-Miklos (I had to mention her name), reaching the wire 23 1/4 lengths in front. That's impressive at any level.
But the recent winner who could still prove to be one of the big guns for First Dude this year is Sticksstatelydude, a 3-year-old colt who was bought for $40,000 by a large group which included Greg Burchell, the longtime broodmare manager for Frank Stronach at Adena Springs South. Burchell, who can be seen each year as one of the assistant starters for the Kentucky Derby, moved back to the Bluegrass State several years ago where he and his wife Beth opened a business. When Stickstatelydude went to the races, Greg was the trainer.
The colt raced just three times as a 2-year-old, getting a victory and a second and finishing fourth in the Breeders Futurity. After a minor injury laid him up, he returned on June 19 to finish second at Churchill Downs, with the Burchells still listed on the ownership line, and Greg still listed as trainer. However, when Sticksstatelydude came back at Belmont on July 15, both Burchell references were gone, and Kiaran McLaughlin was listed as trainer. Apparently, Greg and Beth have sold their share in the colt.
Like Foxy Gator, Sticksstatelydude also stumbled at the break at Belmont. But he shot to the lead, held it safely the rest of the way and cruised home by 3 1/4 lengths. Victory in the $77,000 allowance race was worth $46,200. He's now 2-2-0 in five tries with earnings of $138,400, and the best, it appears, is yet to come. Both for him and First Dude.
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