There’s a four-way duel for the second through fifth places on Florida’s leading sire list, behind leader Khozan, and it probably will take a lucrative stakes or allowance victory for one of the four to separate himself from the other three. First Dude is involved in the battle, and he’s currently just $10,000 away from moving up to second behind Khozan.

Romantic Jewel added $5,940 to First Dude’s total at Mahoning Valley yesterday, bringing her record to 3-3-0 in nine starts. The 4-year-old filly bred by Steve and Bryan Tucker is 3-2-0 in her last six tries.

With Fernando Salazar Becerra aboard, Romantic Jewel pressed the early pace from the outside in the six-furlong race, took the lead after a quarter, then continued on in front the rest of the way, winning by 2 1/2 lengths and raising First Dude’s progeny earnings to $393,610.