Rod Lundock’s fabulous Maryquitecontrary became the first Florida-bred runner by a Florida sire to win a graded stakes in 2023 with a last-to-first performance in the Gr. II, $200,000 Inside Information on yesterday’s Pegasus World Cup program at Gulfstream Park.

    Luca Panici was once again aboard the 4-year-old daughter of First Dude as she captured her fifth race in a row and third in a stakes, earning a check for $117,800 and moving into 10th place on her sire’s $200,000-plus list with a bank account of $338,580. She also became First Dude’s eighth winner in January as the son of Stephen Got Even moved into second place on Florida’s leading sire list with earnings of $304,356.

    Maryquitecontrary was off last in the race at seven furlongs and didn’t begin to make her move until the 10-horse field was approaching the turn. There she went widest of all after 15-1 pacesetter Fire On Time and closed five lengths late, drawing off to score by 2 1/2 in 1:23.64. She paid $7.20 and raised her career record to an eye-opening 6-1-0 in seven starts. 

    On the west coast, Cindy’s Song made it 2-for-2 in January at Tampa Bay Downs, taking a clear lead past the quarter pole under Richard Bracho and continuing on in front for the rest of the mile and one-sixteenth. The 4-year-old First Dude filly bred by Ponder Hill held off three rivals down the lane and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:43.77. 

    Cindy’s Song paid $13 and collected a check for $10,238, raising her total to $54,533 on a record of 3-1-1 in 14 starts. The $95,000 OBS June 2-year-old received an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 78, tied for her best ever.