First Dude

First Dude, a Florida-bred Thoroughbred stallion who won the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup in 2011 and went on to become one of Florida's leading breeding stallions, died on 24 September 2026 at Double Diamond Farm in Ocala, Florida. He was 19 years old.

Foaled on 27 March 2007, First Dude was a homebred for owner and breeder Donald R. Dizney, sired by Stephen Got Even (a son of A.P. Indy) out of the Smart Strike mare Run Sarah Run. His name was a nod to Todd Palin, who was known as the First Dude of Alaska while his wife Sarah Palin served as governor. Trained first by Dale Romans and then by Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert, First Dude built a reputation as a big, tough colt who ran his hardest every time he was asked. As a three year old in 2010 he was competitive against some of the best of his generation, finishing second in the Preakness Stakes and picking up minor placings in the Belmont Stakes, the Travers Stakes and the Haskell Invitational. He saved his best for last: in 2011 he closed his racing career with three straight wins, including the Grade 3 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs and a hard fought victory over Game On Dude and Twirling Candy in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park. He retired with a record of four wins, five seconds and four thirds from 17 starts and earnings of 1,442,140 dollars.

First Dude mattered to American racing less for the length of his own resume than for what he did afterward. He entered stud at Double Diamond Farm in 2012 and stood there for the rest of his life, siring 14 crops that produced nearly 30 million dollars in progeny earnings. He was Florida's leading freshman sire in 2015, the state's leading second crop sire in 2016, and was named Florida Stallion of the Year in both 2017 and 2018. His best runner was Shamrock Rose, who was named champion female sprinter in 2018 after winning the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, giving First Dude a Grade 1 winner both on the track and in the breeding shed. Other notable offspring included the graded stakes winners Maryquitecontrary and Skye Diamonds. Of 538 foals of racing age, 431 became starters and 302 won at least one race, a strike rate that made him one of the most dependable stallions to stand in Florida for well over a decade.

News of First Dude's death was announced by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association on the afternoon of 24 September 2026, a day after he died overnight at Double Diamond Farm. No cause of death has been made public. Owner Donald R. Dizney, who bred and raced First Dude before standing him at his own farm for 14 breeding seasons, said the horse had become part of the fabric of life at Double Diamond, remembered fondly by the staff who cared for him and by visitors who brought him peppermints over the years. Tributes from within the Florida racing and breeding community followed quickly, reflecting his standing as one of the state's most consistent and beloved stallions. No public memorial has been announced.