First Dude

First Dude’s Latest Milestones Are Just Around the Corner

    First Dude is another step closer to his next two career milestones after the victory of Bernie’s Mitts in a $54,800 allowance optional claimer at Parx Racing. The stallion by Stephen Got Even is now less than $57,000 away from reaching $28 million in lifetime progeny earnings, and he’s just five away from

First Dude’s $200,000 List Reaches 30

    When the chart of First Dude’s runners who have earned at least $200,000 was introduced on the right side of this page, there were 17 names listed. On Tuesday, that number reached 30 with the addition of Neigh Dude.     The 6-year-old gelding bred by Porter Racing Stable scored his ninth victory

Two More Milestones on the Horizon for First Dude

      First Dude is closing in on two more career milestones after the popular victory of Right Karma under Edgard Zayas in a one-mile test for maidens at Gulfstream Park.      The 5-year-old horse bred by Tom and Lori Fackler at Ocala’s Best A Luck Farm was off in mid-pack and remained

Charlie’s Wish Moving Up First Dude’s Exclusive List

    Charlie’s Wish moved two spots upward on First Dude’s $200,000 list via a second-place finish in a $100,000 Handicap at Gulfstream Park.      With Jose Ortiz aboard, the 5-year-old mare wound up 2 1/4 lengths behind Dreaming of Mo in a mile and 70-yard test that went in 1:39.08. She earned a

Impacto Turns in a Stunner at Tampa Bay Downs

    On Jan. 4, Impacto won in $12,500 claiming company at Tampa Bay Downs, his seventh victory in a 17-race career, and was taken out of the race by owner/trainer Juan Arriagada for the claiming price. Arriagada wasted no time wheeling the 6-year-old First Dude gelding back for $20,000 just 11 days later, and

Impacto’s 7th Check Equals His RNA Price

    What are the odds?     At the June 2021 OBS Sale, Impacto didn’t reach his reserve and wound up as a $14,000 RNA. Ironically, at Tampa Bay Downs in his first 2025 start, the now 6-year-old gelding by First Dude won for the seventh time, and the reward was $14,000.    

Apprentice Gonzalez Guides Grandma’s Pudding to Gulfstream Score

     Melvis Gonzalez is a 7-pound apprentice currently riding at Gulfstream Park, where so many youngsters have kicked off what later turned out to be highly successful careers. But the 24-year-old graduate of the Panama jockey’s school            looked like an old veteran winning a mile and one sixteenth test

Hess Scores Again with Another First Dude

    Apprentice rider Sara Hess has been at Tampa Bay Downs for less than two weeks, and she’s already become a handicapper’s best friend, compiling an impressive record of 4-2-4 in 14 starts. Of the four victories, two have come aboard First Dudes – the $51 bomber on He’s Side Eyed on the 29th,

Apprentice Scores With First Dude First-Timer at $51

    Apprentice rider Sara Hess showed up for the meeting at Tampa Bay Downs last week with 20 winning rides under her belt, and made it 21 with a gutsy effort on Singsational on opening day. She quickly made it 22 by taking He’s Side Eyed wire-to-wire on day 2, holding on gamely to

First Dude Gelding is ‘Movin’ on Up’

  Time to Cruise moved up to 23rd place on First Dude’s $200,000 list with a sharp (almost) wire-to-wire performance at Parx Racing on Tuesday.     With Mychel Sanchez aboard, the 4-year-old gelding bred in Pennsylvania by Tom and Lori Fackler (Best A Luck Farm), took the lead going to the first quarter in