In his first six starts at ages two and three, Bernie’s Mitts went 1-1-1 with earnings of just $29,800. This year, like so many of First Dude’s offspring, the 4-year-old gelding ramped it up to another level – 2-2-2 in 11 tries with earnings of $102,690, increasing his total bank account to $132,490.

In his latest, apprentice Kendry Rivera was aboard the $13,000 OBS June 2-year-old gelding bred by Julie Ann Jackson in a six-furlong, $55,920 allowance optional claimer at Parx Racing. Rivera sent Bernie’s Mitts to the lead, put up sizzling fractions of :21.88, :44.6 and :56.85 en route to a 1 1/4-length score in 1:09.42. He paid $4.60, earned a check for $31,200, and received his best-ever Equibase ‘E’ speed figure – 104.