Since First Dude fell four behind Khozan in the race for most winners on Florida’s leading sire list, the son of Stephen Got Even picked up three victories in six days and now trails by only one, 44 to 43.

No. 43 came in the third race at Finger Lakes yesterday, by first-timer Victoria’s Dance, and it was followed up by a victory by another First Dude runner – First Homestead – in the next race.

Victoria’s Dance, a $1,200 OBS October yearling bred by Sally J. Andersen, earned $15,960, a little more than 13 times her purchase price in her career debut in a $32,100 maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs. With Neftali Perez riding, the 3-year-old filly was off fourth, slipped through into third on the inside down the backstretch, moved three wide on the turn to go after the leaders and ran down even-money favorite Carmelita nearing the wire to score by one length. She paid $9.80 in her first try.

First Homestead was a different story. After leaving Florida in the spring, the 4-year-old gelding bred by Peggy Dellheim and Pete Mattson has now started four times at Finger Lakes, notching three victories and a second. He boosted his record to 5-2-0 in 13 starts, and the $11,640 check raised his earnings to $52,636. In his latest, First Homestead stalked the pace in second and caught 7/5 favorite Fleet Warrior in the shadow of the wire to win by one length in 1:11.10 for the six furlongs. He paid $8.90.