Leading Breeders’ Cup Classic candidate
Game On Dude heads a deep,
world-class roster of horses running at Santa Anita on Saturday in five
Grade I Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” stakes for those seeking to
secure berths in the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships to be
held Nov. 2 & 3 at Santa Anita.
Game On Dude drew the rail in the Awesome Again and will face
eight rivals, all of whom are hoping to run in the $5 million Breeders’
Cup Classic at 1 ¼ miles on Nov. 3.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Game On Dude won the 2011
Santa Anita Handicap and comes off a second-place finish, beaten a
half-length as the 6-5 favorite in Del Mar’s Grade I Pacific Classic run
on Polytrack Aug. 26.
Ridden by Chantal Sutherland in his last nine races, four of them
victories, Game On Dude will be handled by Rafael Bejarano and will
return to natural dirt on Saturday. Bejarano’s only previous try with
“Dude” resulted in an allowance win at Santa Anita on January 27, 2011.
A gem of consistency, the 5-year-old Awesome Again gelding is
owned by Joe Torre’s Diamond Pride, LLC, the Lanni Family Trust, Bernard
Schiappa and partners.
Game On Dude took full advantage of his inherent speed the last
time he drew the rail, in the Grade II Californian at Betfair Hollywood
Park on June 2. Sent to the lead by Sutherland, he crushed three
rivals, winning by 7 ½ lengths at the Awesome Again distance of 1 1/8
miles.
Although the run to the first turn was shorter on Hollywood’s 1
1/8- mile main track, it would be no surprise to see Bejarano employ
similar tactics on Santa Anita’s one mile oval Saturday. Game On Dude
has a lifetime record of 19-8-5-1, with earnings of $2,844,658.
Richard’s Kid, who was a troubled third in the Pacific Classic,
beaten 2 ¾ lengths by Game On Dude in his first start for new owners
Kenney, Triple B Farms, Westside Rentals, et al and trainer Doug O’Neill
rates a huge chance in the Awesome Again.
Like Game On Dude, Richard’s Kid gets a new rider on Saturday, as
the multiple Eclipse Award winning Garrett Gomez will take over. Gomez
has ridden the 7-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid twice, winning the
Grade II San Antonio Handicap at Santa Anita on Feb. 7, 2010, as well as
splitting a 14-horse field in his next start, the 2010 Dubai World Cup.
It is expected that Richard’s Kid, who is three for seven going 1
1/8 miles, will get plenty of pace to run at, which could facilitate
his late kick.
Richard’s Kid has a lifetime mark of 36-11-3-8, with $2,106,385 in earnings.
Jay Em Ess Stable’s Rail Trip, who ran an even fourth, beaten 4 ½
lengths in the Pacific Classic, will again get the services of jockey
Jose Valdivia Jr.
Trained by Ron Ellis, Rail Trip and Valdivia sat close to the
early pace in the Grade II San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July
28, winning by a half-length.
Since returning to Ellis’ barn from New York this past spring,
the 7-year-old Jump Start gelding has experienced a rebirth of sorts and
has trained well at his Hollywood Park base since returning from Del
Mar. His career record is 21-9-6-1, with earnings of $1,313,790.
Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will send out the
talented 3-year-old Nonios in the Awesome Again. A winner of Hollywood
Park’s Grade III Affirmed Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on June 3, Nonios was
subsequently second in the Grade II Swaps Stakes on July 4, second in
the Grade I Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 29 and most
recently fifth, beaten 3 ¾ lengths in the Grade I Travers at Saratoga on
Aug. 25.
Possessed with good tactical speed, the son of Pleasantly Perfect
will be reunited with Martin Pedroza, who rode him in both Hollywood
Park starts. His record stands at 7-3-2-1, with earnings of $359,000.
The complete field for the Awesome Again, which will be run as
the 10th on an 11-race card, with jockeys and weights in post position
order: Game On Dude, Rafael Bejarano, 124; Winning Machine, Javier
Matias, 119; Nonios, Martin Pedroza, 116; Groovin’ Solo, David Flores,
116; Suggestive Boy, Joe Talamo, 121; Empire Way, Brice Blanc, 116;
Richard’s Kid, Garrett Gomez, 119; Balladry, Victor Espinoza, 119, and
Rail Trip, Jose Valdivia Jr., 119.