Bull Meechum’s laid-back manner has earned him the nickname “Puppy Dog” around the barn. His efforts on the track, though, and his circuitous path to success have earned much respect from Farrior.

“He’s definitely a barn favorite,” Farrior said of Bull Meechum, who has won four of five starts this year and sports six wins and nearly $110,000 banked from 12 career tries. “Around the barn, he’s just a big, lovable, puppy dog. He’s almost like a family pet, But once he gets on the track and goes in the gate, he’s all business. He has so much speed and raw talent. He just continues to get better. He’s recovered from two cracked shins and still been able to run as fast as he does.”

Bull Meechum began his career on January 8, 2020 and competed in four maiden special weight events that year before suffering the first of two foot injuries and getting his first lengthy vacation following a runner-up effort in May 2020. 

Bull Meechum returned to the track the following spring and graduated against maiden claiming company on March 25, 2021. He finished fourth in his next outing in April before getting yet another extended layoff, this one nearly eight months because of shins, before he returned to defeat claimers again on Dec. 3, 2021.

Given a clean bill of health, Bull Meechum has maintained a busy schedule since the calendar turned to 2022. He ran Feb. 18, March 18, March 26, April 13, and May 25. All but the March 18 race – in which he finished third – ended with Bull Meechum getting his picture taken.

Bull Meechum has posted three straight sharp scores, defeating allowance foes on March 26 by nearly three lengths in 52.10, bested allowance company next out as the odds-on choice by four lengths in 51.85, and then most recently prevailed as the 1-5 favorite in an open, one-turn allowance.

“I hate being the 1-5 favorite,” Farrior said. “It just seems like everyone is expecting you to win and when you don’t, it’s so disappointing. But he’s been really good for the last three months. He found some state-bred allowance spots, but his last two have come against open company. I nominated him to [$75,000] It’s Only Money Stakes [on June 11]. It’s only 17 days out from his last race, but I don’t think that quick turnaround will bother him.”

Bull Meechum is a homebred for Conroy Thoroughbreds out of the Songandaprayer mare Pink Gloss, a 10-time winner in her career. With his strong 2022 to date, the horse they call Puppy Dog has become the top earner for Conroy.

Bull Meechum would be making his stakes debut if he posts in the It’s Only Money Stakes. He could later attempt other one-turn stakes for state-breds, the Last Enchantment and the West Virginia Dash For Cash Breeders’ Classic..

Although not a West Virginia-bred, It’s Only Money earned his claim to fame by capturing the inaugural running of the $50,000 Charles Town Dash on July 4, 1999 for owner-trainer Tom Grams. It’s Only Money eventually retired with six wins and over $155,000 banked from 29 career.