Berks has raced just three times this year – at three different Mid-Atlantic tracks – and the First Dude gelding has two victories and a third to show for his efforts.

    The rapidly-improving 3-year-old Maryland-bred picked up his second victory yesterday at Delaware Park, following a maiden-breaking score at Pimlico on May 19 and a third at Laurel on June 4. Jaime Rodriguez guided Berks to victory No. 2, a wire-to-wire beauty in which he sped by the furlong markers in :22.81, :45.67 and :57.85 en route to a final clocking of 1:09.91. He turned away two challengers in the stretch, winning by 1 1/2 lengths, and was given a 91 ‘E’ speed figure. 

    Berks paid $10.20 and earned a check for $26,100, putting $54,045 in the bank for Jagger Inc., his owner and breeder. Including his lone race at two, he’s 2-0-2 in four tries and has averaged $13,511 per start.