Picking Up Pennies picked up a great deal more than pennies after breaking his maiden in his third start for trainer/co-owner Saffie Joseph Jr. in the second race at Gulfstream Park yesterday. The winner’s check for the First Dude gelding came to $17,400 – or 1,740,000 pennies.

With Tyler Gaffalione aboard, Picking up Pennies went to the lead about 100 yards out of the gate, and never received a serious challenge for the rest of the six-furlong trip. The 3-year-old gelding, purchased by Joseph for $30,000 at the 2019 OBS October yearling sale, edged away at the top of the stretch and was three lengths in front at the wire, clocked in 1:11.68.

Picking Up Pennies, bred by Jesus Rodriguez, paid $4.40 as favorite and became the 10th winner for First Dude this year. In addition, it left the son of Stephen Got Even just four short of 700 winning races by his progeny.