Preakness runner-up First Dude may be ready for breakthrough win in Belmont Stakes

First Dude looking for breakthrough at Belmont

NEW YORK — First Dude seems to be building up for a breakthrough victory. Trainer Dale Romans is confident it could happen in Saturday’s $1 million Belmont Stakes.

“The Belmont will be this horse’s race because he wants to go a mile and a half,” Romans said, “and he’ll love the track.”

Romans’ confidence soared after his 3-year-old bay colt set the pace in the Preakness nearly three weeks ago, then managed to duel with Lookin At Lucky in the stretch before settling for second. The trainer is eager to send out First Dude against 11 others in the 1½-mile final leg of the Triple Crown.

“You’re not going to skip a classic with a horse like this,” Romans said. “He’s a throwback kind of horse, a big rugged kind of horse, nothing bothers him, and I don’t think three weeks is going to bother him.”

First Dude may have just one victory in seven starts for owner Donald Dizney, but finished fifth in the Florida Derby, third in the Blue Grass and second in the Preakness in his three Grade 1 starts.

And now, without Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and Lookin At Lucky to deal with, First Dude is the second betting choice at 7-2 behind Derby runner-up Ice Box, who is 3-1 on the morning-line.

“We think with extra distance and a little more experience we can turn the tables on Ice Box,” Romans said.

A win by First Dude would likely put the colt whose name refers to Todd Palin — husband of former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin — at the top of the 3-year-old division.

“You won’t get any argument from me,” Romans said.

To get his horse used to Belmont Park, the only race course in North America with a 1½-mile dirt track, Romans sent First Dude to New York nearly two weeks ago. So far, so good.

“I wanted to make sure he trained over this surface, which is deeper and sandier,” the trainer said. “And it also give him a chance to get used to the mile and a half oval.”

With New York’s leading rider Ramon Dominguez aboard, Romans figures he has the right jockey to get the job done.

“I think it’s an advantage to us to have a rider that’s been here and ridden over this racetrack a lot,” Romans said.

Still looking for his first Triple Crown win, Romans says First Dude is the best chance he’s had, especially if he gets the lead.

John Velazquez, who will be aboard 9-2 third choice Fly Down, agrees.

“If First Dude gets alone on the lead, he’s going to be tough,” Velazquez said. “If he is out there by himself, I hope the one-and-a-half-miles gets him. If it doesn’t, I hope I get him.”

Here’s why Roman believes his horse fits the course: “He’s a great big horse with a long loping stride, and I think the big, sweeping turns here will help him. He’s strong and he’s handled everything we’ve given him and bounced right back.”

Romans is having quite a Triple Crown of his own. He finished third in the Derby with Paddy O’Prado before First Dude ran second in the Preakness.

“I hope it’s a progression,” he said.

The other dude in the race is Game on Dude. Unlike Romans, trainer Bob Baffert has a slew of Triple Crown race wins, including his most recent with Lookin At Lucky. He’s got a Belmont win with Point Given in 2001, but knows Game on Dude — at 10-1 — will need an exceptional effort to pull off an upset.

“I am looking forward to seeing what he will do going a distance of ground,” Baffert said. “That’s the key to the Belmont, having a horse who can go that far.”

Game on Dude won the Lone Star Derby on May 8 in his last start, and will be ridden by Martin Garcia — who was aboard Lookin At Lucky in the Preakness.

Not only are the Derby and Preakness winners out of the Belmont, so is Sinatra.

The New York Racing Association said Thursday that Frank Sinatra’s classic version of “New York, New York” is being replaced by “Empire State of Mind” as the music heard when the horses step onto the track before the Belmont.

The change is being made because Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” has become a “quintessential 21st century theme song for New York City,” NYRA marketing director Neema Ghazi said. “It’s inspirational and resonates with those who aspire to achieve great things living in the world’s greatest city”

“New York, New York” replaced “Sidewalks of New York” in 1997.

Alicia Keys’ version of “Empire State of Mind” is to be performed by teenage recording artist Jasmine Villegas.