Owner/trainer Jay Bernardini claimed Fivefive Six Champ for $15,000 at Mahoning Valley on Feb. 1, and has quickly gotten out on the 5-year-old First Dude gelding. After his 8 1/2-length score, Fivefive Six Champ came back to win by a head on Feb. 20, earning a check for $15,540, and made it three straight yesterday in a $27,500 allowance optional claimer, good for $17,050, and a two-race haul for his new owner of $32,590. 

    Erik Barbaran had the gelding sitting a stalking second for most of the race at a flat mile, then drove him into the lead in the stretch that culminated in a victory by three-quarters of a length in 1:40.77. The $165,000 OBS March 2-year-old bred by red-hot OBS consignor Tom McCrocklin now sports a record of 5-1-4 in 21 starts with career earnings of $96,110. He paid $8.80 and left First Dude just seven winning races shy of the 1,000 mark.