At the tender age of eight, What’s Up Dude shows no sign of slowing down. The First Dude gelding scored his 10th career victory yesterday in a $57,040 allowance optional claimer at Hawthorne, and accomplished it in an eye-catching 1:09.80 for the six furlongs. 

    With Rocco Bowen pitching in with a perfectly-timed ride, What’s Up Dude sat a comfortable fourth about five lengths behind the leaders as 6/5 favorite Fore Left and 8/5 second choice Malpais engaged in a speed duel that proved to be the undoing of both – a :21.90 first quarter and a half in :44.92. Nearing the top of the stretch, What’s Up Dude swung off the inside, put away the gasping favorites, and went on to score by 1 1/4 lengths.

  The gelding bred in Illinois by Larry Rivelli and Richard Ravin paid $11 as he raised his record to 10-9-5 in 53 starts. The $38,640 winner’s check increased his career total to $394,959 and he moved up one spot – to eighth – on the list of First Dude’s leading earners. He’s won two of his last three, and earned an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 98.