As the field was settling in the gate for the fourth race at Belterra Park on Thursday, Kohaku was 6/5 on the tote board, despite the fact that he was still a maiden after 22 races. When the gate was sprung, the 4-year-old First Dude gelding shot out quickly with Leander Sanchez, and was head-and-head for the lead at the first quarter. And, when the final odds were posted, a ton of late money had installed Kohaku as the 3/5 favorite.

    The gelding bred by Janice Woods never enjoyed a breather in the 6 1/2-furlong race, and it took everything Sanchez had in deep stretch to get Kohaku home by a head. He was clocked in 1:20.51, paid $3.20, earned a check for $5,890, and came out with a record of 1-2-4 in 23 starts, but with the hope that like so many of First Dude’s progeny, he’s getting better with age.