Game on Dude survives inquiry, wins Big ‘Cap

Game on Dude (right) edged Setsuko in the final strides (Alex Evers/EquiSport Photos) After bumping repeatedly in the stretch, GAME ON DUDE (Awesome Again) re-rallied late to nip Setsuko (Pleasantly Perfect) by a nose on the wire in Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita H. (G1) and then had to survive a lengthy steward’s inquiry to garner a controversial victory. Jockey Chantal Sutherland had the mount on the four-year-old, who netted his first Grade 1 score and provided trainer Bob Baffert with his second consecutive win, and third overall, in the prestigious 1 1/4-mile event. Game on Dude raced close to the pace from the start and advanced to a narrow lead leaving the far turn, but the race was far from over as the dark bay gelding entered the stretch as part of a three-horse pack with 1-2 favorite Twirling Candy (Candy Ride [Arg]) in the middle and Setsuko on the far outside. Sutherland was hitting Game on Dude left-handed and her mount’s back right hip made contact with the front left shoulder of Twirling Candy, starting a chain reaction in which Twirling Candy slammed into Setsuko and then back again into Game on Dude, who was nearly knocked off stride twice.

The stewards deliberated whether Game on Dude instigated the incident, but
ultimately determined that Twirling Candy was responsible for the bumping.

Twirling Candy, who was cut off by the front-running First Dude (Stephen Got
Even) shortly after the break, was rank early, fighting the urges of jockey Joel
Rosario to relax as he entered the first turn, but loomed a serious factor
turning for home. However, he threw in the towel after the severe bumping
incident and faded to fifth. His off-the-board performance generated huge show
payoffs.

Setsuko, who offered an eye-catching move around the final bend to reach
contention, carried his momentum forward after being impeded, taking a short
lead between calls in deep stretch, but couldn’t withstand the final surge of
Game on Dude in the shadow of the wire. The winner stopped the teletimer over
the fast track in 1:59 2/5.

Dismissed at nearly 15-1 from post 11, Game on Dude paid $31.60, $11.60 and
$14.40 as the fourth choice in the 11-horse field. Maiden winner Setsuko, who
was off at 25-1, returned $15.80 and $25 for his commendable performance. It was
a half-length back to Quindici Man (Came Home), who came charging late to grab
third as the 69-1 second-longest shot and yielded $48.20, and Soul Candy (Birdonthewire)
came another 4 1/4 lengths behind in fourth. The $1 exotics lit up the tote
board at $253.20 (exacta), $10,325.60 (trifecta) and $48,248 (11-6-7-1
superfecta).

First Dude, who was a head back after a rapid opening quarter-mile in a :22
4/5, showed the way through splits of :46 3/5 and 1:10 3/5 before weakening and
winding up sixth. He was followed under the wire by Tweebster (Tapit), Spurrier
(Dixieland Band), Aggie Engineer (E Dubai), Gladding (Sarava) and Pode Ir (Brz)
(Crimson Tide).

Owned by Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable and Bernard Schiappa, Game on
Dude captured last year’s Lone Star Derby (G3) and was making his second start
since a fourth in the Belmont S. (G1), returning off a near seven-month rest
with an allowance/optional claiming win at Santa Anita on January 27. He nearly
doubled his career earnings Saturday to $702,658 from a 8-4-1-0 line.

Bred in Kentucky by Adena Springs, Game on Dude is the second registered foal
out of stakes winner Worldly Pleasure (Devil His Due). Game on Dude was a
$210,000 Keeneland September RNA