First Dude moved to within $28,000 of reaching the million-dollar mark in 2022 progeny earnings when first-time starter Maryquitecontrary overcame a string of problems to break her maiden yesterday at Gulfstream Park.

  The 3-year-old filly owned and bred by Dr. Rod Lundock was sent off at 12-1 with Luca Panici in the $44,000 maiden optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs. She broke upwards and was off eighth in a field of nine, but Panici soon had her four wide and moving into contention down the backstretch. On the turn, Maryquitecontrary made a powerful run on the outside and found herself head-and-head with 5/2 Rosie’s Halo at the top of the stretch. They battled from the eighth pole home, with Maryquitecontrary proving best by three-quarters of a length.

    First Dude’s 27th winner of the year paid $27.20 after getting the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.58. The victory was worth $27,300 and a breeder’s award to Dr. Lundock, a long-time Florida horseman, and First Dude’s earnings soared to $972,672, well on his way to his seventh consecutive year of more than $2 million.