After a fourth-place finish in his seasonal debut, owner Don Dizney decided to give First Dude ``a change of scenery'' and moved him to Southern California-based trainer Bob Baffert. First Dude made his first start for Baffert in the Santa Anita Handicap, but finished sixth behind stablemate Game On Dude after battling for the lead. Baffert then decided to school First Dude and told jockey Martin Garcia to keep First Dude off the pace and let him make his own moves.
Baffert
Martin Garcia