Winking At Thedude is on the doorstep of becoming First Dude’s 19th $200,000-plus earner after the come-from-behind victory of Winking At Thedude at Mountaineer Park last evening.

The 6-year-old gelding was put in an advantageous position after scratches narrowed the field to four in the one-mile race. Luis Rivera patiently allowed Winking At Thedude to sit last for half a mile, five lengths off the battling leaders. They moved through on the inside turning for home, split horses at the top of the stretch, and outgamed 2/5 favorite Rock the Park to score by half a length.

The $17,000 Timonium May gelding bred by Dee-Ellen Cook and Suzette Parker paid $6.80, earned a check for $8,236 and left First Dude a little less than $2,000 short of reaching $200,000. Winking At Thedude’s record is now 6-10-6 in 34 starts, and he’s 2-1-2 in 8 starts this year.