After going oh-for-6 in 2022, Exonerated Prez finally put it all together in the first race at Thistledown yesterday, winning a long stretch battle over 4/5 favorite Drinksonthebeach by a nose.

    Luis Rivera settled the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred First Dude gelding into fourth place down the backstretch in the race at six furlongs. On the turn, Rivera let Exonerated Prez loose and he swept up five wide to contest the lead with the favorite, prevailing on the final head bob for his second career victory. The gelding bred by Don Dizney paid $16.20 and earned a check for $7,080 while becoming First Dude’s 39th winner this season.