Very quietly, a 7-year-old mare by First Dude has been making headlines in Puerto Rico, winning her last five races in a row, and seven of her last eight.

    Sunset Paula Jo, bred by Maria Montez Haire, has been taken to new heights by jockey Edwin Castro, winning by a neck on Sept. 16, 2 1/4 lengths on Oct. 9, a neck on Nov. 4, 1 1/4 lengths on Dec. 2, and by a nose in her latest on Jan. 17, one of the five First Dude winners in the new year. Before that, she had won by three lengths on May 17 and 2 1/4 on July 11, followed by her only loss during the span, a fourth-place finish in the Clasico Roberto Clemente Stakes on Aug. 22. 

    The impressive streak has lifted Sunset Paula Jo’s career record to 12-2-5 in 36 starts, and she’s earned $168,543 despite the low purse structure at Camarero Race Track. In her latest, she raced six furlongs in 1:10.72, paid $3.40, and was claimed for $27,000. In her last four starts, she has received Equibase ‘E’ speed figures of 98, 108, 94 and 100.