First Dude edges Game on Dude as Baffert runs 1-2 in Gold Cup

Donald R. Dizney's homebred FIRST DUDE (Stephen Got Even) closed

dramatically to nip pacesetter Game on Dude (Awesome Again) on the wire in Saturday's

$500,000

Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), providing trainer Bob Baffert with a one-two finish

in a thrilling edition of the 1 1/4-mile event. The surging four-year-old colt

recorded his third straight victory and established himself as the West Coast's

leading contender for this year's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs.

"When they hit the wire, I knew I'd won it. I just didn't know which

one. I was hoping for a dead heat," Baffert said. "That would have been

really cool."

Second in the Preakness (G1) and third in the Belmont S. (G1), First Dude

placed in six straight graded stakes last season as only a maiden winner, but

his losing streak reached 10 when opening 2011 with a fourth in the

Sunshine Millions Classic. Dizney decided to transfer him from Dale

Romans to Baffert and First Dude lost his first outing for the Hall of Fame

conditioner, finishing sixth in the Santa Anita H. (G1). However, the bay

Kentucky-bred has turned things around in phenomenal fashion since then, winning an April

allowance at Santa Anita prior to his victory in the May 6 Alysheba S. (G3) at

Churchill.

First Dude entered the stretch in sixth, with plenty to do on

the far outside as the front runners threw down the gauntlet with a

quarter-mile remaining. Twirling Candy had everything opportunity but could not

get past Game on Dude, who appeared poised to steal the race inside the sixteenth

pole, but First Dude gamely reeled

in his stablemate in deep stretch, sticking his nose in front in the final stride.

He stopped the teletimer in 2:01 2/5 on the Cushion Track.

"In the morning they've been finishing together and they both ran a

great race today,'' said Baffert, who leads the meet in both wins (34)

and stakes victories (seven). "First Dude is just a big old horse and

you've just got to let him settle. You just have to ride him with a lot

of confidence and that's what Martin did."

Off as the 4-1 second choice in the eight-horse field, First Dude paid

$10.20, $4.80 and $3.20. Game on Dude, the 9-2 third

choice, edged Twirling Candy by a neck, and it was another 2 1/4 lengths back to

6-1 fourth choice Setsuko (Pleasantly Perfect). Awesome Gem (Awesome Again)

checked in fifth in his title defense and was followed by Dark Cove (Medaglia

d'Oro), Miss Match (Arg) (Indygo Shiner) and Soul Candy (Birdonthewire).

First Dude has now earned $1,442,140 from a 17-4-5-4 career line. His

aforementioned stakes placings at three included the Travers (G1), Blue Grass

(G1), Haskell Invitational (G1) and Pennsylvania Derby (G2).

Bred in Florida and produced by the minor stakes-placed Run Sarah Run (Smart

Strike), First Dude is a half-brother to the stakes-winning Via Venato

(Orientate) and a yearling colt by Dixie Union. This female family is

responsible for multiple Grade 3 winner Bettarun Fast (Kelly Kip).