Game On Dude was assigned top weight of 123 pounds for Saturday’s
Santa Anita Handicap presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino,
and as of Sunday morning, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was undecided
on running.
“Here or Dubai,” Baffert said succinctly, alluding to running in
either the Big ‘Cap or the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 31.
If Baffert were to opt for Dubai, Game On Dude, who is 4-4 over
Santa Anita’s main track, would run on an artificial Tapeta surface.
Game On Dude would spot Setsuko seven pounds in the Big ‘Cap
Saturday. They finished a nose apart in last year’s controversial
running, in which Game On Dude carried 115 pounds to Setsuko’s 114.
Game On Dude carried 123 pounds to a 5 ¼-length romp in the San
Antonio Stakes on Feb. 5, the gelding’s first start since finishing
second at equal weights of 126 pounds in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last
Nov. 5.
Baffert has won the last 12 races in which he has entered
horses, from Feb. 11 through yesterday, Feb. 25. He had horses entered
at Santa Anita in three races on Sunday.
Strub Stakes winner Ultimate Eagle was next in the weights at
120 pounds. A total of 18 horses were weighted, with Fiddlers Afleet
drawing low weight of 110 pounds.