First Dude- Grade 1 winner

[NTamm1215]

I have been a First Dude fan and it had mostly to do with him going through the rigors of a tough campaign and holding up really well (minus the BC Classic).

With all due respect to Dale Romans, Bob Baffert has done a very good job with First Dude. He has shed the "lumbering ox" type of running style which was used countless times to no avail. He clearly is comfortable sitting off the pace now, and even though he's very slow to get in stride, he's finishing unlike he did last year.

I thought the Hollywood Gold Cup was a very solid effort and didn't view the final quarter as the eyesore that many saw it.

As far as where First Dude stacks up, I don't agree with somebody like Mike Watchmaker, who rates him the top of the division, but he's obviously one of the 3-4 best.