First Dude is back in a tie for first place on Florida’s winners’ list – again – and at the same time has passed $1.2 million in 2021 progeny earnings.

Gio Sammy scored his first victory this year, gamely winning a 5 1/2-furlong race at Thistledown yesterday, to throw First Dude into a 40-40 deadlock with Khozan in the category that Double Diamond’s premier stallion led last year.

Luis Rivera was aboard the 4-year-old gelding bred in Maryland by Ocala’s Best A Luck Farm, and the veteran rider placed Gio Sammy in perfect stalking position on the rail behind pace-setter Archipelago, who zipped along in fractions of :22.60 and :46.80. At the top of the stretch, Gio Sammy swung into the two path and went after the leader in tandem with Cantankerous Bobby, and he held off the 9-1 shot by a nose after a long battle down the lane.

It was the third career victory for Gio Sammy, who paid $8.40 and collected $6,660.