First Dude had two more winners approaching President’s Day, This Dude a Breeze scoring at Gulfstream Park following the incredible 20th career victory by Sunset Paula Jo at Camarero in Puerto Rico. They became winners six and seven for First Dude since Jan. 1, and gave him 991 victories since his first year at stud. 

This Dude a Breeze – The 4-year-old gelding bred by Bruno Schickedanz broke his maiden in his seventh start with Junior Alvarado turning in a picture perfect ride. Going a mile over the turf course, Alvarado settled the gelding on the rail, three lengths off the leaders down the backstretch. They slipped through on the inside on the turn, swung three wide into the stretch, and proved best nearing the wire, winning by three-quarters of a length. 

This Dude a Breeze was clocked in 1:34.41, paid $33.20, and earned a check for $19,200.

    Sunset Paula Jo – First Dude’s leading race winner, a $1,200 OBS August yearling bred by Maria M. Haire, raced head-and-head on the lead for half a mile in the 1 1/16ths-mile test, then drew off with authority to score by 10 1/2 widening lengths and pay $7.80. The 9-year-old mare has earned $221,805 on a record of 20-9-7 in 61 starts and she’s been in the top three in six straight races.