JUDE got his career off to a perfect start on Friday to prove he was worth the wait when the 3-year-old rose to Thoroughbred Daily News Rising Stardom with a 2 ½ length debut Maiden Special Weight victory.

Bob Baffert sent the colt out in a six-furlong dirt race for this maiden start and JUDE decided to make it exciting early. The colt raced over 10 lengths behind the leader down the backstretch with that margin still in front of him as the field worked its way around the far turn.

Closing strongly, he cut the corner to eat the margin down even more and looked full of promise in the final furlong. He caught Simple Song before easing to a 2 ½ length win without Juan Hernandez fully asking him to show his talent in the closing stage.

JUDE was a $2 million Keeneland September Yearling purchase from co-breeder Runnymede Farm’s consignment. The farm bred the Uncle Mo son with Peter Callahan and Three Chimneys Farm.

JUDE is a half-brother to a Grade 1 winner in the Bob Baffert-trained Collected, who is the best runner out of Helena Bay. That mare has produced six winners from six to race with one of her daughters also producing the stakes winning Artilena.

Helena Bay herself is one of eight winners from 11 runners out of Josette, who produced stakes winner Woodwin W and the graded stakes placed duo of Las Venturas and Deep Sound in addition to the dam of stakes winner and Grade 3-placed Koala Princess.

JUDE gave Zedan Racing its sixth winner of the year with the stable also having 12 other top three finishes for 18 top three finishes in 26 starts this year. Their group of winners in 2025 is led by Grade 1 winner BRANT and Grade 2 winner BARNES.