Published:
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
While the racing world grinds almost to a halt throughout most of North America, First Dude continues to add winners at venues far away from Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs.
Only two tracks were in operation yesterday, Fonner Park in Nebraska and Will Rogers Downs in Oklahoma, and First Dude was well-represented by Kat Dude at the former. The 3-year-old gelding bred by Donald Dizney won a race called the Baxter Stakes, although its purse was only $10,175.
Dakota Wood sent Kat Dude out for the lead in the six-furlong test, and the gelding was challenged from the outside for the entire trip. He dug in at the top of the stretch and held off the last challenger to score by one-half length, paid $4.60 as favorite and collected a check for $6,105. First Dude moved back to the money lead among Florida stallions after losing it briefly on Monday.
Kat Dude has won two of his last three and is 2-0-2 in four starts since Jan. 1.