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What’s Up Dude 3rd in Lightning Jet Stakes at Hawthorne

What’s Up Dude, one of 11 members of First Dude’s $300,000-plus club, finished a game third in the $65,700 Lightning Jet Stakes at Hawthorne yesterday, the second time the 7-year-old gelding has been stakes-placed in the race. He finished second as a 5-year-old in 2019.

Angel Rodriguez was aboard What’s Up Dude in the race at 6 1/2 furlongs and sent him up quickly from his outside post. He stalked pace-setter and even-money favorite Wild Cookie Monster in the three-path through sizzling fractions of :22.31, :44.71 and 1:09.58, moved up to second heading into the stretch, but was caught one jump from the wire, missing the runner-up spot by a head.

What’s Up Dude earned a check for $6,570, boosting his career total to $330,809 on a record of 8-9-5 in 48 starts. He’s No. 10 on the First Dude $300,000-plus club list, but less than $7,000 from retired Dude Fantasy in ninth.