Attempting his first start beyond six furlongs and facing an overwhelming favorite, Big Cuddle dug in deep through the stretch and turned back 1-2 choice Final Story in the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes to win by a half-length. The mile and a sixteenth test for 3-year-olds was the second stakes on the Preakness Stakes-G1 undercard on Saturday, May 16, at Laurel Park.

With jockey Yedsit Hazlewood aboard for trainer Gary Capuano, the Pocket 3's Racing color-bearer was making just his fourth career start. Breaking a step slow and bumped early, Big Cuddle regrouped and tucked in behind early leader and stablemate Let's Go Lando, who led the six-horse field through a first quarter in :24.60. By the half (in :48.64) Final Story was in front, and he edged away to a clear lead heading into the stretch.

Big Cuddle was working to find racing room heading into the far turn after being shuffled back down the backstretch. With clear sailing entering the stretch, he took aim at Final Story. "Big Cuddle means business," called out track announcer Dave Rodman as he ranged up alongside Final Story. Charging down the stretch side-by-side, Big Cuddle proved strongest in the end, pulling away to stop the clock in 1:44.47.

A son of Great Notion, Big Cuddle recorded his second career stakes win and third overall, for earnings of $160,020. A winner in a maiden special weight first time out by daylight at Delaware Park last September, he captured the $100,000 Maryland Million Nursery after an adventurous trip a month later.

Given a five-month break, Big Cuddle returned to the worktap in March, and made his sophomore debut at Laurel on April 18, where he closed gamely while suffering his first defeat when second to freewheeling stablemate Buds Notion in a five and a half-furlong allowance.

Selected by Capuano for $30,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling sale, Big Cuddle was bred by Two Legends Farm and is the fourth named foal out of the winning El Padrino mare Frechette, and her third winner from three starters. He is a half-brother to $372,689-earner Devil Pays in Gold, winner of the 2024 Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap. Tracing back to the Polish Numbers mare Lunar's Legend, he is from the family of Maryland-bred champions Whereshetoldmetogo, Celestial Legend and Miss Charm City.

Frechette produced a colt by Engage in 2024 and a Speaker's Corner filly last May.