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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

Bahamian Moon Heading for $500,000 at Age 8

    In this day, when geldings’ careers outlive all the rest, Bahamian Moon continues to raise eyebrows. The 8-year-old mare by Bahamian Squall not only is still racing, she’s in top form.     Bahamian Squall’s top race-winner and second-leading money-winner, Bahamian Moon made it two in a row with a wire-to-wire score at

Amazing: 5-Year-Old Gelding Cruises in Career Debut

    It would hardly seem appropriate to designate a 5-year-old as a TDN rising star, but in the case of Bajan Sun it would be wholly appropriate.     The Bahamian Squall gelding was making his career debut racing five furlongs at Horseshoe Indianapolis with Marcellino Pedroza in the irons. Bajan Sun was listed

It’s 3 in a Row for Zayas and Right Karma

    In his first five career starts in 2023, Right Karma’s best effort was one second-place finish; he then spent 18 months on the bench. But the 5-year-old son of First Dude bred by Best A Luck Farm has returned with a vengeance, finishing fourth, then second, and now with three straight victories under

Kirk Douglas Would Be Proud of Ferrer and Spartacus’s Dude

    In his first two starts, Spartacus’s Dude finished eighth and ninth with Marco Meneses and Sam Marin in the irons. In start No. 3, Jose Ferrer took over the reins on the 3-year-old colt, and although it took a little time, the son of First Dude broke his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs

Berks Goes Wire-to-Wire at Laurel for 13th Victory

    After taking a break of almost three months, Berks has returned with two victories in a row at Parx and Laurel for owner/breeder Jagger Inc., and now has 13 for his 32-race career.     The 6-year-old Maryland-bred gelding by First Dude had Jaime Rodriguez aboard in his latest at a mile and

First Dude Mare Wins 2nd Straight at Tampa Bay Downs

    Sweet Nola won a $24,000 starter optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday, making it two victories in the space of 12 days at the Oldsmar track for the 5-year-old mare by First Dude, who has now had seven winners in the last 21 days.     Samuel Marin was aboard Sweet Nola

First Dude Mare Reaches Century Mark

Naa Dudette surpassed the $100,000 mark in lifetime earnings with a light-up-the-board victory in a 1 1/16th-mile test at Tampa Bay Downs. The 5-year-old First Dude mare carried Jesus Suarez to a come-from-behind, 1 3/4-length score, paying $58 and getting the distance in 1:45.36. She collected a check of $12,100 for owner/trainer Thomas E. Waltre

Nouveau Riche Makes a Few Handicappers Newly Rich

    “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” couldn’t be a more appropriate adage than when referring to Nouveau Riche’s maiden-breaking victory in the first race at Tampa Bay Downs on Sunday.       The 4-year-old filly by Bahamian Squall went 15 races (seven at Gulfstream, three at Mountaineer and five at