All it took for Exonerated Prez to break his maiden was a drop in class, and the 3-year-old son of First Dude made it look easy at Thistledown yesterday.

With Yarmarie Correa aboard, the gelding bred by Don Dizney broke on top in the 5 1/2-furlong race and never gave anybody else a chance. He set fractions of :23.00, :47.08 and :59.60 and extended his lead at every call. At the wire, it was nearly nine lengths back to the runner-up, and Exonerated Prez was just cruising. He was clocked in 1:06.06, collected a check for $6,180, and earned his highest Equibase ‘E’ speed figure – a 73, while becoming winner No. 41 for First Dude this year.