Congratulations are in order to trainer Rafael Romero, who breezed Impacto once at Tampa Bay Downs to get a gate card, then twice more at the Williston Mile, and was rewarded with an authoritative victory yesterday in a 5 1/2-furlong claiming race in Oldsmar.

    The 4-year-old First Dude gelding was overpowering in his career debut, but his morning trial prowess somehow found its way to the betting public, who sent him off at just 4-1, and to the other horsemen, as Romero lost Impacto for a mere $10,000.

    The gelding was off seventh on the outside and bided his time down the backstretch. As the field approached the turn, Lexander Sanchez let Impacto loose and he gobbled up the pack, taking the lead at the head of the stretch, then running away from 4/5 favorite Incredible Bill in the lane and winning by 4 1/4 lengths. He paid $10.60 and earned a check for $7,850 after getting the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.32, while becoming First Dude’s 20th winner of 2023.