With Maryquitecontrary winning the $65,000 Sheer Drama Stakes at Gulfstream Park yesterday, and Ready to Runaway finishing second in the $100,000 Bella Notte Minnesota Distaff at Canterbury Park, First Dude’s progeny earnings for 2022 soared to $1,657,361, and it shouldn’t be long before the son of Stephen Got Even surpasses $2 million for the eighth consecutive season.

    Former Ocala veterinarian Rod Lundock is the owner and breeder of Maryquitecontrary, the highly-promising 3-year-old filly who didn’t race at two and raised her record to 3-1-0 in four starts this year with her come- from-way-back score in the Sheer Drama. After a runner-up finish in the July 16 Azalea Stakes, she won her next on Aug. 19 racing seven furlongs in 1:23.84 and received an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 86. She was the 9/5 favorite in this race at the same distance and Luca Panici guided her to the wire in 1:23.42; her ‘E’ figure of 95 is best of her four races. The $37,830 winner’s check increased her total to $111,130.

    Ready to Runaway, the $4,000 Minnesota August yearling in 2017, continued to add to her considerable earnings produced mainly at Canterbury. Although no match this day for 4/5 Charlie’s Penny, who raced the six furlongs in 1:10 flat, she picked up $19,375 for second and raised her career total to $560,460. The 6-year-old mare owned by John Mentz had won the Bella Notte in 2020 in 1:10.12.