It’s game on for Game On Dude in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap
after the favorite for the track’s marquee race worked six furlongs in a bullet
1:11 on Sunday.
Under Martin Garcia, the Bob Baffert charge drilled in company with
stablemate Patriot’s Voyage, who went in the same time. The duo tied for the
fastest of 11 moves at the distance on Santa Anita’s fast main track. The day’s
average time was 1:12.95.
Game on Dude, the 2011 Big ‘Cap winner who has earned more than $3.2 million,
galloped out seven furlongs in 1:24.
“I was really happy with the work,” said Baffert, who will accept the top
weight of 125 pounds assigned to Game On Dude for the $750,000 prize.
“I wasn’t really happy with the weights,” Baffert went on. “I thought I’d at
least get the same weight as Bill Mott’s horse (defending Big ‘Cap winner Ron
the Greek). That’s a good horse. Every time I run against those good horses,
they beat me. My horse is a tough little horse, but Ron the Greek’s tough, too.”
Ron the Greek was given second high weight of 122 pounds.
“The main thing is, he worked really well,” Baffert said of Game On Dude, not
dwelling on the weights.
Owned by a partnership of the Lanni Family Trust, Bernie Schiappa, Mercedes
Stable and baseball great Joe Torre, Game On Dude has never won carrying more
than 124 pounds.
Game On Dude will be the morning-line favorite for the Santa Anita Handicap,
according to Jon White, who is Santa Anita’s oddsmaker and provides commentary
from the paddock for the track’s simulcast network.
“Before we know who is actually entered, any morning-line prices for the Big
‘Cap are subject to change,” White said. “But based on the horses currently
listed as probable, I plan to make Game On Dude a 6-5 favorite, with Ron the
Greek the second choice at 5-2.
“I made Game On Dude a 9-5 morning-line favorite for the Breeders’ Cup
Classic, with Ron the Greek at 6-1. Game On Dude was sent away as a 6-5 favorite
in that race, while Ron the Greek’s closing price was 8-1. Ron the Greek
finished fourth, while Game On Dude ended up seventh.
“Since the Classic, Game On Dude is two-for-two and Ron the Greek romped (to
an 11 1/4-length victory) on a sloppy track in Sunshine Millions Classic at
Gulfstream.
“In next Saturday’s Big ‘Cap, I expect Game On Dude and Ron the Greek to be
much, much closer in the betting than the 6-5 and 8-1 they were in the Breeders’
Cup Classic. Game On Dude and Ron the Greek really are the ‘big two’ in this
year’s Big ‘Cap. I think they definitely deserve to be the morning-line favorite
and second choice for this year’s Santa Anita Handicap considering they have won
the last two Big ‘Caps.”
Ron the Greek was scheduled to arrive at Ontario Airport early Sunday
afternoon, then van to Santa Anita to prepare for the race he won last year by 3
1/2 lengths, coming from 10th after a quarter-mile in a field of 13.
Probable for the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap, with assigned weights: Game
On Dude, 125; Ron the Greek, 122; Called to Serve, 118; Richard’s Kid, 118;
Guilt Trip, 117; Handsome Mike, 117; John Scott, 116; Stephanoatsee, 116; and
Clubhouse Ride, 115.
Carla Gaines, who Saturday said John Scott would pass the Big ‘Cap, Sunday
morning said she was “not ruling it out” after the Crystal Water winner worked
six furlongs under Garcia in 1:11 3/5.
White commented on what the rest of the Big ‘Cap morning line might look
like.
“Beyond Game On Dude and Ron the Greek, depending on exactly how many others
are entered, I plan to put Called to Serve, Guilt Trip and Stephanoatsee from
5-1 to 8-1,” White said.
“Called to Serve won the (Grade 3) Discovery at Aqueduct by almost five
lengths and the Broad Brush at Laurel by almost six. He’s very dangerous,
especially with his rider being Gary Stevens, who has won the Big ‘Cap four
times.
“Guilt Trip looked good winning the (Grade 2) Strub. And Stephanoatsee, who
ran second in the Strub, acts as if he will like the longer distance of the Big
‘Cap.”
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