After Maryquitecontrary broke her maiden under Luca Panici in her June 11 Gulfstream Park debut, she finished second with Edgar Prado in the $75,000 Azalea Stakes when Panici had another call in the race. For her third start, the 3-year-old First Dude filly was reunited with Panici who deftly guided her to victory No. 2 in a $51,000 allowance optional claiming race.

    Maryquitecontrary, owned and bred by long-time Ocala veterinarian Rod Lundock, was off well in the race at seven furlongs, settling into fourth on the rail down the backstretch. As the field approached the turn, Panici eased her into the two path and his filly went after the leaders. In the stretch, there was just one left to overtake and she out-gamed 2-1 Towser to the wire by a length. 

    Maryquitecontrary paid $4.40 as favorite while earning a check for $31,300, raising her bank account to a healthy $73,300, an average of $24,433 per start. First Dude’s progeny earnings for the year jumped to $1,475,420, and with five runners set to compete today, he could pass the $1.5 million mark by this evening.