Woodbine: 'Dude' beats The Finagler

What's Up Dude outran favored The Finagler en route to a 4 3/4-length score in the $136,000 Swynford Stakes.

The Finagler and Dr. Socrates vied through moderate fractions in the seven-furlong dash for 2-year-olds, as What's Up Dude assumed a three-wide stalking position under Patrick Husbands.

What's Up Dude took control from The Finagler at the quarter pole, and then drew off in the stretch to complete the distance in 1:24.67 seconds. Dr. Socrates finished 2 1/4 lengths back of The Finagler in third in the five-horse field. Olympia Fields and Three Cianos were scratched.

According to trainer Mike Mareina, the addition of blinkers was a wake-up call for What's Up Dude, who was coming off a third-place finish in the Silver Deputy Stakes.

"He should have won his last race," Mareina said. "He was gawking and looking up at the grandstand, and his ears were going back and forth. I told the owner that he'll run a lot better when he put blinkers on him. Once in a while, you're right."

What's Up Dude returned $5.80 as the second choice and earned $81,600 for Kuehne Racing.

* My Pal Lana ($33.80) captured the supporting feature, the $109,000 Flaming Page Stakes for fillies and mares. With David Clark aboard, My Pal Lana ran 1 1/2 miles on the grass in 2:28.82 seconds.