Bolt d’Oro’s Major Dude takes Artie Schiller S. for fifth career stakes win
October 11, 2025
Major Dude, a four-time graded stakes-winning son of Bolt d’Oro, added the listed Artie Schiller S. to his resume on Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct, taking the one-mile turf affair by a length over Otago.
Facing just four foes, Major Dude settled in third soon after the break as Big Everest (GB) led the field for the first six furlongs. Major Dude, who was three-wide around the final turn, hit his best stride in mid-stretch, powering past the leaders and out-running the late-closing Otago to secure the win.
“We thought we might work out a trip where we’re box-seated and waiting for the right time to pounce,” said Todd Pletcher assistant Stu Hampson. “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.”
The victory for the Spendthrift Farm color-bearer was his first since taking the Fort Lauderdale S. (G2) on Dec. 21, 2024. The 5-year-old also has wins in the Pilgrim S. (G2), Penn Mile (G2) and Kitten’s Joy S. (G3). With a record of 8-4-5 in 26 starts, Major Dude has earned $1,418,747.
Major Dude was bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farm and sold to Spendthrift for $550,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearlings sale.
Bolt d’Oro now has four graded stakes winners and nine stakes winners overall in 2025. Currently third on the Fourth-Crop sire list and top-25 nationally, Bolt d’Oro will stand for $25,000 in 2026.