After selling for $1,200 at the OBS August yearling sale in 2016, Sunset Paula Jo started 29 times at eight racetracks around middle America, compiling a record of 6-2-0.

    Claimed for $18,000 out of a winning race on May 17 of 2021, the now 7-year-old daughter of First Dude wound up in Puerto Rico, and after her 2 3/4-length victory this past week has registered an eye-opening record of 10-1-0-1 in 12 starts at Camerero Race Track. That includes an eight-race winning streak from Sept. 16 of 2021 to April 30 of 2022.

    With Juan Diaz riding, and carrying hi-weight of 123 pounds, Sunset Paula Jo survived a pressured pace in her latest, and paid $3.40 after getting 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:19.84. She earned $4,350 from Puerto Rico’s meager purse budget, and has banked a combined $190,579 from the two countries; her record is 16-3-5 in 41 tries. As has been the case in so many of her races, the mare bred by Maria Montez Haire was claimed again, this time for $14,000. 

  First Dude is now less than $4,000 from reaching $1 million in 2022 progeny earnings.