First Dude

Lady Emily Turns in Powerful Gulfstream Debut

Since his first crop reached the races in 2015, First Dude has had a penchant for siring blockbuster fillies. In fact, 12 of his 18 $200,000-plus earners are females. At Gulfstream Park yesterday, Lady Emily gave an early indication that somewhere down the road her name might be added to that elite list. Making her

Ready to Runaway 2nd in $55,000 Lady Slipper Stakes

Ready to Runaway became First Dude’s third stakes-placed runner of 2021 yesterday evening with a second-place finish, 4 1/2 lengths behind stablemate Clickbait in the $55,000 Lady Slipper Stakes at Canterbury Park. They were not coupled in the betting, and, oddly enough, both went off at even money. The 5-year-old Minnesota-bred daughter of First Dude,

First Dude Belts a Rare Four-Bagger at Three Tracks

First Dude made significant moves upward in two important categories on Florida’s sire lists yesterday, hitting a grand slam at three tracks in Pennsylvania, New York and Indiana. The son of Stephen Got Even nailed four winners- two at Parx, one at Finger Lakes and one at Indiana Grand, and changed the complexion of Florida’s

Dudes Lawyer Scores at Thistledown – Winner No. 30 for First Dude

First Dude again moved within two winners of leader Khozan on the 2021 Florida sires list, getting No. 30 yesterday when Dudes Lawyer went wire-to-wire in a five-furlong race at Thistledown. Erik Barbaran was aboard the 4-year-old gelding, who had finished second in his previous start and was sent off at 1/2 in this one,

First Dude Closes in on Leader in Winners’ Race

First Dude narrowed the winners’ gap between himself and leader Khozan to two after the victories yesterday of First Gold at Gulfstream Park and Quana Dude at Prairie Meadows. Khozan leads the league with 31 winners, while First Dude, coming on strong, now has 29. First Dude was first in this category in 2020 among

Another Daylight Score for First Dude Runner in Louisiana

Tiz the Dude’s victory yesterday wasn’t quite as spectacular as Speedy Dudette’s 16-length score at Louisiana Downs the day before, but owner/trainer Rylee Grudzien isn’t going to complain after the First Dude colt’s seven-length beauty at Cajun country’s other track, Evangeline Downs. With Diego Saenz aboard, Tiz the Dude battled for the lead through a

First Dude 3-Year-Old Is One Speedy Dudette

This is how the Louisiana Downs track announcer described the action nearing the wire as Speedy Dudette was widening her lead in the second race at Louisiana Downs yesterday: “Speedy Dudette is all by herself – winning by 15 lengths.” Turns out he was pretty close – the final margin was a little more than

Southern Dudette Goes Wire-to-Wire in Evangeline Return

The first five times that Southern Dudette raced at Evangeline Downs – as a 3-year-old in 2091 – the daughter of First Dude showed an affinity for the track, posting one victory, a second, a third and two fourths. Now five, she returned to Opelousas, Louisiana yesterday and picked up her fifth career victory with

Bella Serena Never Threatened in Maiden-Breaker at Tampa

First Dude remained within four winners of Florida leader Khozan with the convincing victory of Bella Serena at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday. The 3-year-old filly owned and bred by Joe and Vivi Serena broke her maiden in her ninth start and earned a check for $9,890 while becoming the 24th winner for First Dude this

Weekend Begins With a Bang for First Dude

First Dude had 10 runners of various ages compete at five tracks on Friday and Saturday, and he wound up with two winners, three seconds, a third and a fourth. Nearly 40 percent of his runners this year have finished in the top three, and his progeny earnings recently passed $600,000 for the season and