Nik Juarez isn’t too far removed from his impressive run as an apprentice, but he showed his current skills to a T getting First Dude’s 24th winner home in a mile and a sixteenth maiden test at Monmouth Park.   

    Co-highweight at 123 pounds, First Reign broke last in the field of eight competing on the grass surface and trailed by six or seven lengths as they headed down the backstretch. Juarez slipped the 3-year-old filly through on the inside on the turn, and First Reign remained there passing rivals down the lane, proving to be best by 1 1/4 lengths at the wire. She was clocked in 1:45.09 and paid $12.60, while collecting a check for $14,700 for her initial score.