Riley’s Dude didn’t race as a 2-year-old last year, but he’s more than making up for it this season. With a little more than seven months gone on the racing calendar, the 3-year-old gelding is First Dude’s leading money-winner of 2021 with $73,380 in the till.

He took over the top spot yesterday via a strong wire-to-wire performance at Parx Racing under Augusto Marin. After two scratches in the $48,000 allowance race reduced the field to five, Riley’s Dude took the lead a few jumps out of the gate and never looked back. He passed the furlong markers with a daylight lead in :22.59, :45.88 and :58.38, then completed the course in 1:10. 78. He won by 3 1/4 lengths and collected a juicy check of $30,000.

The gelding bred by the Jerome G. Bozzo Trust raised his record to 2-2-1 in seven starts, paid $12.40, and earned his highest ‘E’ speed figure from Equibase – a very respectable 101.