Highly regarded Sticksstatelydude, who won honors as top Virginia-Bred 2 Year Old Colt in 2015, captured his second career victory this past weekend in a $77,000 allowance race at Belmont.
Sticksstatelydude wins a $77,000 allowance race July 15 at Belmont. Photo by Pack Pride Racing.
The First Dude colt stumbled at the start but recovered quick enough to still go gate to wire in winning the one mile race by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:34.04. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Joel Rosario, Sticksstatelydude has now earned $138,400 from just five starts.
After finishing 4th in the Grade I Claiborne Breeders Futurity October 3rd at Keeneland, he had to pass on the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile due to an injury. In his first start back from the layoff June 19th, Sticksstatelydude finished second in a Churchill Downs allowance and followed that with this triumph. Out of the Gilded Time mare, Placerita, he was bred by Canyon Lake Thoroughbreds.
Sticksstatelydude shown in the Belmont paddock area before his race July 15. Photo by Pack Pride Racing.
His ownership group which includes Pack Pride Racing (who provided the photo), also earned a 25% bonus as part of the new Virginia-bred owners bonus program which began July 1st.