First Dude is only 11 away from having his sons and daughters rack up 1,000 visits to the winners’ circle. Impacto became No. 989 yesterday, going wire-to-wire in a $54,000 allowance optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs.

    The 5-year-old gelding bred by Jose Manuel Contreras broke his maiden in his first career start by 4 1/4 lengths on April 2 of last year and was claimed out of the race by trainer Craig R. Smith for just $10,000. With yesterday’s victory in his first return to Oldsmar since then, Impacto raised his record to 6-2-2 in 12 starts, and the check for $34,450 increased his career earnings to $96,306. And in a strange twist, Smith lost the gelding for $32,000 to Tampa’s perennial leading trainer, Gerald Bennett and his Winning Stable.

    Impacto’s sixth victory, under Jesus Castanon, was accomplished in 1:39.00 for the mile and 40 yards, and he received his best Equibase ‘E’ speed figure – a 101. He won by two lengths and paid $8 after a ton of late money knocked him down from his morning line of 10-1.