First Dude’s red-hot February push continued yesterday with convincing scores by What’s Up Dude at Turfway Park and Neigh Dude at Laurel, giving Dude 11 winners since Jan. 1, while the amazing Sunset Paula Jo extended her unbelievable streak in Puerto Rico to seven victories in a row and nine of her last 10. 

  What’s Up Dude is an 8-year-old gelding who, despite not having won a race since October of 2020, had recorded three seconds, three thirds and three fourths since that victory, including thirds in two stakes, the Lightning Jet at Hawthorne and the Hanshin Cup at Arlington Park. His come-from-behind victory yesterday under Luan Machado – by two lengths – added $21,000 to his earnings, which now total $355,969, and moved him into ninth place among all First Dude runners.

    What’s Up Dude raced a mile on the all-weather track in 1:36.39 and received an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 107, second best of his career. All told, the gelding bred in Illinois by Larry Rivelli and Richard Ravin has compiled a record of 9-9-5 in 51 starts.

    Neigh Dude, a 3-year-old gelding bred by Porter Racing Stable, won under J. D. Acosta in his fourth start, first since Oct. 21, and paid $14. He was purchased for just $2,000 by Anthony Pecoraro, his trainer, at the October Timonium sale in 2020, and yesterday’s check for $18,000 boosted his total to $21,810. Neigh Dude made a powerful four-wide move into the stretch and was never threatened late, winning by 3 1/4 lengths with six furlongs in 1:12.02.

    Sunset Paula Jo had been ridden by Edwin Castro for all of her 6-race winning streak, but in No. 7, she had Joshua Navarro aboard. The 7-year-old mare won by nearly two lengths in 1:23.61 for the seven furlongs, while Castro was third with 3/2 favorite Queen Ledoux. Sunset Paula Jo added a meager $5,336 to her bank account, which now stands at $180,259, on a record of 14-2-5 in 38 tries. Despite the low purse structure, and only minor chances to make a profit, she was claimed for $27,000.

    First Dude is just $2,313 away from third place on Florida’s sire list with 2022 progeny earnings of $333,981.