HUTCHESON S. (gr. II ), Gulfstream Park , February 02, 2013 , $150,000 Guaranteed , value of race $190,000 , 3 yo , 7 furlongs , 1:22.53 Dirt FT .

Honorable Dillon went from maiden winner to grade II winner when he won the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 2 for owner Joseph Bucci. The 3-year-old son of Tapit scored by a half-length over 9-5 favorite Forty Tales.

Two other graded stakes scores on the day helped propel Tapit to the top of the 2013 general sires’ list.

Trainer Eddie Kenneally bought Honorable Dillon for Bucci for $100,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Florida March sale of 2-year-olds in training. Honorable Dillon was consigned by Parrish Farms, agent. Honorable Dillon had RNA’d for the same amount in 2011 at the Keeneland September yearling sale as part of the Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consignment.

Honorable Dillon was bred in Kentucky by Robert B. Trussell Jr., who bought the colt’s dam, Shy Greeting, for $240,000 at the 2007 Keeneland November breeding stock sale through Central Kentucky horseman Cecil Seaman, agent. Sold in foal to Smarty Jones, Shy Greeting was consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, agent, for Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

“Cecil and I both picked her out,” said Trussell, a Lexington owner/breeder. “I was looking for stakes-producing mares because if you can afford it, there’s a good chance they might do it again (produce another stakes winner). Shy Greeting earlier had produced a 2-year-old champion filly in Argentina (Forty Greeta in the early part of the last decade). The game plan is to get as many stakes producers as you can.”

Shy Greeting is boarded at Walmac Farm, which is owned by Trussell and John T.L. Jones III and is located near Lexington. Shy Greeting is in foal to Hat Trick and is due in May.

Trussell also owns an interest in Honorable Dillon’s unnamed 2-year-old Mr. Greeley half sister. The filly was offered for sale at the 2012 Keeneland September sale by Taylor Made, agent, but was bought back for $130,000. Trussell later sold the filly privately but retained an interest.

Tapit has sired 40 stakes winners including Flashback and Tapicat, both stakes winners Feb. 2. Flashback won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita, and Tapicat captured the Florida Oaks (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs. Tapit stands at Antony Beck’s Gainesway Farm near Lexington. His 2013 fee is $125,000.—D.S.

( ), Belmont Park , May 01, 2013 , $74,000 Added , value of race $74,000 , 3 yo's & up , 6 furlongs , 1:09.95 Dirt FT .