First Dude reached the half-million level in 2022 progeny earnings yesterday with the victory of First Homestead at Mahoning Valley. The 5-year-old gelding bred by Peggy Dellheim and Pete Mattson earned a check for $15,540 in the $28,900 allowance test and raised his total to $90,345, while his sire’s earnings hit $500,184.

    With Guillermo Rodriguez in the saddle for the six-furlong trip over a muddy surface, First Homestead tracked the leaders in fourth place in a :22.90 first quarter, went five wide on the turn to assume the lead down the lane, and proved best of five in the run to the wire. He scored by a length in 1:13.06 and paid $12.60, improving his record to 7-2-1 in 20 starts.

    First Homestead won once in three tries at three, five times in 14 starts at four, and now once in his first three starts at five; he became First Dude’s 16th winner of 2022.