After the new Tapeta surface was installed at Gulfstream Park for the current meeting, the winner of the first race at each distance established a track record, however temporary. Ever since, the record at every distance has been lowered several times.

   In yesterday’s seventh race, Famous Gent became the latest to own the record for ‘about’ 5 1/2 furlongs, posting a clocking of 1:04.64 while winning for the third time in 18 starts, and first of this year.

    With Tyler Gaffalione aboard, Famous Gent was among a group battling for the early lead, and the 4-year-old First Dude gelding proved to be the quickest, reaching the first quarter in :23.23 and opening up a 1 1/2-length margin. He passed the half in :46.49 and was never threatened the rest of the way, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths as his sire’s 12th winner this year.

    Owner Frank Calabrese and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. had claimed Famous Gent out of his previous race on Jan. 13, and they lost him yesterday while collecting a check for $14,700, which raised his career total to $111,040. The gelding had worked four furlongs in :47.90 at Palm Meadows for Joseph since the January claim and was bet down to 3/2, paying $5.

    With the winner’s check, First Dude moved up to fourth on Florida’s leading sire list with earnings of $349,333. With his recent success, he passed the 800 mark this week in number of races won by his runners.