Alex’s First broke her maiden at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday, not only giving First Dude five winners in the last week, but helping him toward succeeding in three important statistical areas for 2020.

First, the 2-year-old filly became winner No. 64 for her sire, stretching his lead in that category to 12 over Khozan on Florida’s leading sire list. Second, she put him just three short of reaching 100 winning races for the year, just two behind leading sire Khozan, and third, kept him nearly $17,000 ahead of Brethren in the battle for second place in the progeny earnings department.

Tampa Bay newcomer Isaac Castillo showed again why he’ll be a force to be reckoned with at the meeting, getting Alex’s First away well on the rail from the No. 4 post and into a strong stalking position down the backstretch. Heading into the stretch, he swung the filly off the rail and ran down the three leaders, drawing off late and winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:26.85 for the seven furlongs over a sloppy track.

Alex’s First scored in her fifth try, paid $12.80 and earned a check for $7,720, plus a breeder’s award for the Brunetti family’s Red Oak Stable.