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Four in a Row in Canada for Conrado

    There seems to be no stopping Conrado.     The 4-year-old First Dude gelding made it four straight victories since June 28 with a narrow score in an $8,000 allowance race at Grand Prairie in Western Canada. With regular rider Juan Apango aboard, the $9,000 OBS October yearling came from behind in a

First Dude Daughters Top $1 Million in Combined Earnings

    It isn’t often that two of a stallion’s biggest money-winners show up in the same race, but it happened with First Dude in the $100,000 Sheer Drama Stakes at Gulfstream Park.      Winner of the race at seven furlongs was the 9/10 favorite, Beth’s Dream, but checking in second, four lengths behind,

First Reign Goes ‘First to Last’ on Monmouth Grass

    Nik Juarez isn’t too far removed from his impressive run as an apprentice, but he showed his current skills to a T getting First Dude’s 24th winner home in a mile and a sixteenth maiden test at Monmouth Park.        Co-highweight at 123 pounds, First Reign broke last in the field

Victory Is Sweet for First Dude Filly at Presque Isle

    Sweet Nola became First Dude’s 22nd winner of 2024 yesterday, winning a mile and 70-yard test over the all-weather track at Presque Isle Downs under a confident ride by Scott Spieth.     Sweet Nola was off fifth in the six-horse field, and Spieth was content to let her remain comfortably about five

Conrado Wow’s ‘Em in Western Canada

    Conrado has rapidly turned into the king of Western Canada.     Since shipping north of the border, in six starts at Grand Prairie and Lethbridge the 4-year-old First Dude gelding has racked up a record of 6-4-1-0-1. Adding his last nine starts in the U. S., he’s 6-7-1-1 in his previous 15.

Foggy Note Can Clearly See the Finish Line

     The triumvirate of trainer Ron Spatz, breeder SCF Inc. and former Gulfstream and Hialeah Park attorney David Romanik is at it again.     This time it’s with the 4-year-old filly Foggy Note, who made a 5 1/2-furlong come-from-behind test on the Tapeta surface at Gulfstream her second victory in her last three

Bernie’s Mitts Returns After 7 Months Off and Romps at Belterra

    As a 2-year-old last year, Bernie’s Mitts posted third and ninth-place finishes before heading to the sidelines and taking off for seven months. The colt by First Dude returned yesterday in a six-furlong, $16,700 maiden special at Belterra Park and was sent off at a surprising 2/5 with Alexis Batista. In an owners’

Spirit Wind Scores in Gr. II Honorable Miss at the Spa

  Spirit Wind went wire-to-wire in the Gr. II, $200,000 Honorable Miss Stakes at Saratoga, winning by three-quarters of a length, clocked in 1:10.36 for the six furlongs and paying $12. As she neared the wire in deep stretch, announcer Frank Mirahmadi brought her home with “It will be Spirit Wind in coast-to-coast fashion.”  The

First Dude Goes Over $1 Million

    Bold Majestic finished third yesterday in a $70,000 allowance race at Colonial Downs and earned a check for $7,000. The 4-year-old lifted First Dude’s progeny earnings for the year to $ 1,004,127.

In His 26th Start, Conrado Posts Career Best Number

    At first glance, it appeared as though the Equibase chart-maker at Grand Prairie in Western Canada blew it when he had the winner of a $7,500 allowance race – Conrado – and the runner-up – Crown Ruler – both ridden by jockey Juan Apango. However, a quick check revealed that the runner-up goes