First Dude will stand at Double Diamond Farm in Florida

First Dude, the winner of the 2011 Hollywood Gold Cup, will stand at Double Diamond Farm in Ocala, Fla., in 2012, according to his owner and breeder, Donald Dizney, the owner of Double Diamond.

First Dude, who placed in both the 2010 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, was retired earlier this year after sustaining a strained tendon following his Gold Cup win, which qualified the horse for an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The 4-year-old First Dude had career earnings of $1,442,140 from 4 wins in 17 starts.

A consistent runner who settled for small pieces of purses in his 3-year-old year – he finished second or third in six consecutive graded stakes in 2010 – First Dude did not notch the second win of his career until April 9 of his 4-year-old year. He was on a three-race win streak for new trainer Bob Baffert when he was injured after the Gold Cup.

First Dude is by Stephen Got Even out of the Smart Strike mare Run Sarah Run. His stud fee will be announced later, according to Double Diamond.