Anyone tuning in a little late to watch the first race at Charles Town last night might have thought they were watching a replay of Secretariat winning the 1973 Belmont Stakes – that’s how far in front Dakota Boy was on the final turn of the seven-furlong race.  

    When the 3-year-old First Dude gelding hit the top of the stretch, the rest of the field was still midway on the turn, so it’s difficult to ascertain just what the margin was, and track announcer Paul Espinosa estimated it to be 13 lengths, but it might have been longer. J. D. Acosta then hand rode him to the wire, and the final margin for Dakota Boy’s maiden-breaking score was determined to be eight lengths. He paid $2.80, earned a check for $8,035, and became First Dude’s 47th winner of 2022.