In his first nine starts at Gulfstream Park, the best Fivefive Six Champ could muster up was a pair of thirds. For start No. 10 on May 20, trainer Dave Braddy opted to switch riders, picking up Sonny Leon. All the Kentucky Derby-winning  jockey has accomplished since with the 4-year-old First Dude gelding is a fourth, a second and two straight victories.

Fivefive Six Champ’s maiden-breaker came by seven lengths, and yesterday at Gulfstream he went wire-to-wire and won by nearly two lengths in 1:37.39 for the mile. In the first victory, the $165,000 OBS March 2-year-old purchase by Champion Equine recorded an 82 Equibase speed figure, best of his first 12 tries. Yesterday he boosted that number to 84.

    Fivefive Six Champ paid $7.60 and earned a check for $16,000 yesterday, raising his career total to $46,850. But unfortunately for Champion Equine, just as he was reaching his peak, he was claimed for $20,000.