The way Picking Up Pennies has been performing this year, trainer and co-owner Saffie Joseph Jr. and his partners in the 3-year-old son of First Dude may have to consider changing his name to Picking Up Dollars.

    With Edgard Zayas riding, Picking Up Pennies went wire-to-wire going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park yesterday and earned a juicy check for $22,100. The gelding bred by Jesus Rodriguez was bumped briefly leaving the gate, but Zayas quickly sent him up to take the lead and Picking Up Pennies sped past the markers unopposed in :22.41, :45.33 and :57.48. Without any serious threat, he cruised through the stretch and scored by nearly four lengths, clocked in 1:10.29, and paying $6.20 as favorite.

    After finishing fifth in his debut on Dec. 31, Picking Up Pennies has since compiled a record of 2-2-1 in five starts at Gulfstream, and the latest check raised his total to $59,230 in that span. That means he has picked up 11,846 dollars per start – deserving of a name change?