Less Than Perfect took command at the head of the stretch en route to a 2 ¼-length victory in Thursday’s $100,000 Fitz Dixon Memorial S. for 2-year-olds at Presque Isle Downs. The Florida-bred juvenile is the ninth stakes horse of the year for his sire, who recently joined the Taylor Made roster for the upcoming 2015 season.

Less Than Perfect was always in contention in the 6 ½ furlong affair, sitting in second for the first half-mile before assuming the lead with about a quarter-mile to go. After a brief three way battle, the eventual winner put away his foes at the furlong marker to win convincingly (VIDEO).

Trained by Kevin Rice for Clyde Rice, Less Than Perfect picked up $60,000 for the win. He is the first foal out of the unraced Aragorn mare Special Date. The colt’s third dam is the hard-knocking multiple stakes winner Meter Maid, who earned over a half-million dollars and is the dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Lemon Maid.