First Dude recently surpassed the $25 million mark in career progeny earnings, and he’s about to reach another milestone – eight straight years with more than $2 million in earnings. The son of Stephen Got Even is less than $13,000 away from that goal after the victory of First Homestead at Mountaineer last evening. 

   The 6-year-old gelding bred by Peggy Dellheim and Pete Mattson now sports a record of 9-4-3 in 28 starts, and the $4,814 winner’s check increased his career total to $112,025. With Angel Diaz aboard, First Homestead shot to the lead out of the gate in the race at one mile, then continued on to an easy wire-to-wire score by nearly three lengths, clocked in 1:41.39.  It was his second straight victory at the distance at the West Virginia track and didn’t contribute much to the bankrolls of his backers – he paid $2.40 last night and $2.60 in his previous score.