It took Steve Dwoskin quite a while before he could get Starship Renegade to the races, but when he did the First Dude colt showed the wait was worth it.

    Starship Renegade will turn five in about six weeks, and didn’t make his first start until Oct. 15. He finished second by a length for co-owner/trainer Dwoskin that day at Gulfstream Park, and has come back to break his maiden in his second try, giving First Dude his 50th winner in 2022.

    With leading rider Miguel Vasquez aboard, and under high-weight of 124 pounds, Starship Renegade was bumped leaving the gate, then took up a position on the rail just a few lengths off the pace. On the turn, Vasquez sent his colt four wide and Starship Renegade did the rest, making up four lengths in the stretch and winning by 3 1/4 widening lengths. The colt bred by Bill and Lynn Rainbow paid $4.40 after getting six furlongs in 1:11.56, and the winner’s check of $26,500 boosted his two-race total to $33,700.