In April, he finished third in the Grade 1 one and one eighth mile Blue Grass Stakes behind Kentucky Derby starters Stately Victor and Paddy O'Prado (also a stablemate trained by Romans) on the synthetic surface at Keeneland Race Course.

When the gates opened, he rushed to the front and overtook Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver to grab the lead passing the stands for the first time.

On the first Saturday of August, he finished third to old rival Lookin At Lucky in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Handicap at one and one eighth miles at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.

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.

He was taken off the pace by jockey Martin Garcia and, with a quarter mile left to run, charged from fifth place to a nose victory over stablemate Game On Dude and odds-on favorite Twirling Candy.