Speedy Dudette became First Dude’s biggest money-winner of the young season with a heart-stopping victory in a $54,000 allowance race at Fair Grounds yesterday. The 4-year-old filly bred in Louisiana by Bill Langford and Karen Keen has now won three in a row, and the $32,400 winner’s check raised her 2022 bank account to $64,200.

    All told, Speedy Dudette is 3-1-2 in seven starts and she’s just $600 away from reaching the $100,000 mark in earnings.

    Back on May 5 of last year, Speedy Dudette began her current streak with a 16 1/2-length victory in a $22,000 maiden special at Louisiana Downs. She then went on an eight-month vacation, returning in a Fair Grounds allowance on Jan. 14 after posting three good a. m. trials and scoring by 2 3/4 lengths under Reylu Gutierrez. 

    In yesterday’s race at six furlongs, Gutierrez settled Speedy Dudette in sixth place within hailing distance of the pace down the backstretch before uncorking a powerful wide run on the turn. She then went after 9/5 Rue Lala in the stretch and nosed out the favorite at the wire. She was clocked in 1:11.50 and paid $6.20.