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Sweet Nola Runs Winning Streak to 4

Nothing changed for Sweet Nola after she completed a three-race winning streak at Tampa Bay Downs and owner/trainer Juan Arriagada shipped her to Presque Isle. The 5-year-old mare by First Dude bred by Frank Mermenstein and Tom McCrocklin destroyed the field in her first try in Pennsylvania – winning by 8 1/2 lengths in a

From Exonerated to Rejuvenated

    Exonerated Prez is in the process of acquiring the nickname of ‘Rejuvenated Prez.’ The 3-year-old Kentucky-bred First Dude gelding has come off a drought of nearly seven months and won two in a row at Thistledown.     On March 27, the gelding bred by Don Dizney won by 2 1/2 lengths and

Foggy Note Repays Her New Owners After Three Tries

    It took Smith Ranch Stables and trainer Luis Ramirez just three races to get out with the 5-year-old Bahamian Squall mare Foggy Note. Claimed for $20,000 on Jan. 2nd, after enduring 10th-place and third-place finishes, the new owners picked up $21,200 for her victory in a five-furlong test over the Tapeta surface at

First Dude Gelding is Most Happy at Presque Isle

  Happyisashappydoes has won five times in his 19-race career and four of the victories have come at Presque Isle Downs. The 5-year-old First Dude gelding broke his maiden at the Pennsylvania track in 2023, added two in a row there last June, and made it four with a wire-to-wire score this week in a

On a Three-Race Winning Streak, Berks Nearing $400,000

    Berks is at it again. In 2023, the now 6-year-old First Dude gelding put together a four-race winning streak at Laurel Race Course and Delaware Park. On Sunday, his victory at Laurel stretched his current streak to three in a row, and moved him into 11th place on First Dude’s $200,000 list.  

Bahamian Squall 5-Year-Old Shakes off Some of the Rust

    Nobody can ever accuse Douglas Jones of not being persistent.     Jones is the breeder, owner and trainer of Rusty Pistol, a 5-year-old son of Bahamian Squall, and Jones has been trying to break his maiden since 2022. In his first 11 starts, 10 of them at Tampa Bay Downs, the best

It’s Not the Energizer Bunny; It’s Petulant Delight

    Petulant Delight is First Dude’s answer to the Energizer Bunny: he just keeps going and going. Just when it appeared as though the 10-year-old gelding was ready to call it a career (he was on an 11-race losing streak), he pops up at Parx Racing to win a 7-furlong race – and pays

First Dude Gelding Makes Impact on $200,000 List

    When First Dude’s $200,000 club list was first compiled, there were 17 entrants. It has continued to grow ever since, and red-hot Impacto has become the 32nd entry, moving onto the list as No. 30.     The 6-year-old gelding bred by Jose Manuel Contreras scored in near-record time in a six-furlong, $54,000

Marin and Sweet Nola Make a Great Team

    Sam Marin has Sweet Nola on a roll at Tampa Bay Downs, and the daughter of First Dude has reached new heights at the age of five. She’s won her last three in a row, while recording the three best Equibase ‘E’ speed figures of her 26-race career.    Sweet Nola scored by

Exonerated Prez Lights Up the Board at Thistledown

    Under a beautifully timed ride from Yan Aviles, Exonerated Prez broke out of a prolonged slump and scored a major upset in a six-furlong test at Thistledown.     Sent off at odds of 25-1, the 7-year-old First Dude gelding bred in Kentucky by Donald Dizney sat a comfortable rail trip down the