TurfPublicists: FIRST DUDE ARRIVES AT SARATOGA FOR POSSIBLE TRAVERS APPEARANCE

**Please see attached photo of First Dude arriving today at Saratoga Race Course, credit NYRA **

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Contact: Dan Silver

FIRST DUDE ARRIVES AT SARATOGA FOR POSSIBLE TRAVERS APPEARANCE

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – First Dude, who has finished top three in four straight Grade 1 races, arrived this afternoon at Saratoga Race Course in advance of a possible run in the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes on Saturday, August 28.

“He handled the plane ride very well and arrived in good condition at Saratoga,” said Tammy Fox, exercise rider for the imposing 3-year-old son of Stephen Got Even.

First Dude, owned by Donald R Dizney and trained by Dale Romans, is scheduled to gallop over the main track tomorrow at approximately 8 a.m., right before the break.

“Dale will make a decision on the Travers after we see how he goes tomorrow morning and how he handles the track,” Fox said.

Since finishing fifth after a troubled trip in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, First Dude has not missed the board in four Grade 1 races, finishing third in the Blue Grass, second in the Preakness, third in the Belmont, and third in the Haskell Invitational, his most recent start.

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