The first five times that Southern Dudette raced at Evangeline Downs – as a 3-year-old in 2091 – the daughter of First Dude showed an affinity for the track, posting one victory, a second, a third and two fourths. Now five, she returned to Opelousas, Louisiana yesterday and picked up her fifth career victory with a wire-to-wire effort under Alexander Castillo.

Southern Dudette became First Dude’s 25th winner this year, just four behind Florida’s leading sire, Khozan. She went to the lead at the break and put up fractions of :22.23. :45.49 and :58.26 en route to a neck victory in 1:12.12 over even-money favorite Money Inthe Starrs. The mare bred by Destiny Oaks paid $6.40 and raised her earnings to $54,365.