Baffert happy as Game On Dude turns in final breeze

Trainer Bob Baffert hoping the third time’s the charm for Game On Dude in the BC Classic (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) Trainer Bob Baffert worked five of his eight Breeders’ Cup horses Monday morning at Santa Anita. He liked all the moves. Baffert sent likely Classic favorite Game On Dude out at 9 a.m. (PDT) and gave him a target horse in front in Amazing Hearted. Game On Dude spotted his barn mate five lengths on the backside, but by the eighth-pole he was even. From there he zoomed through the lane and into the turn for Martin Garcia to win the competition by many in a time of :59. “It’s so quiet out there right now that I wanted to give him a target and get him focused,” Baffert said. “It was a terrific work for him and I’m glad we’re done with that. “He’s a totally different horse this year. He’s not the same horse that ran here last year — thank God. He’s bigger, he’s filled out and he’s a happy horse. I’ve spaced his races out and that’s allowed me to keep his weight on.”

Paynter, also with Garcia, went through his drill at 9:20. He was accompanied
by the three-year-old Flashback, who started a length or so behind him and
stayed there on the outside throughout the exercise. Paynter finished up still a
length ahead in 1:00.

“He was a little rusty,” Baffert said of his other Classic starter. “But he’s
doing great now. I think he’ll be right there Saturday.”

Tap It Rich made his four-furlong move on his own at about 9:15. Rider Rafael Bejarano
was in the saddle for the Juvenile starter, who stepped in :48 1/5. Sprint
candidate Secret Circle zipped along on his own for jockey Garcia in a time of
:46 4/5.

Baffert nodded in approval for both drills, but Garcia put an exclamation
point on the Secret Circle work.

“He’s so fast,” Garcia said. “He’s like Speedy
Gonzalez!”

Beholder will be running for a second divisional championship in the BC Distaff (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella brought his Distaff starter Beholder to the racetrack at 7:45 and had exercise rider David Nuesch put her though a four-furlong drill. Mandella caught her in :49 2/5, but the clockers gave her an official time of :49 1/5. She did it with her ears up. “That’s it; we’re all set now,” Mandella said. “I didn’t want her to do too much today and it was fine. I may have to put her back on the track tomorrow; we’ll see. It (the Distaff) is a heckuva race and she’s going to have to be at her best for it.” Defending Filly & Mare Sprint winner Groupie Doll jogged six furlongs and galloped 1 1/4 miles in her first day at the track after working in :47 2/5 on Saturday at Santa Anita under exercise rider Jada Schlenk. “It is always good when her rider is happy and pleased,” said trainer Buff Bradley, who indicated Groupie Doll would follow a similar schedule the rest of the week. “She won’t go to the gate, but we may take her to the paddock one or two times.”

Trainer Steve Asmussen sent two of his three Breeders’ Cup
runners out for workouts Monday morning. Justin Phillip, looking
to improve on his fifth-place effort in the Sprint last year, worked four
furlongs in :48
3/5, while 2012 Turf Sprint runner-up Unbridled’s Note covered the same distance
in :49 1/5 in preparation for his second try at a Breeders’ Cup victory.

“They were both good works,” said assistant trainer Steve Blasi, who was
handling the barn duties while Asmussen was handling the entering duties.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas wrapped up serious preparation
for All Cash on Monday with a workout in :49 2/5. The two-year-old son of English
Channel is set to run in the Juvenile Turf.

Centralintelligence worked in :48 3/5, breezing, for the Dirt Mile at Hollywood Park to the satisfaction of trainer
Ron Ellis.

“He
went just easy,” Ellis said after the drill under exercise rider Baltazar
Contreras. “He had his ears up all the way. He couldn’t have looked any better.”

Ellis
said the five-year-old will be shipped to Santa Anita Tuesday along with
Teddy’s Promise, the latter for the Filly & Mare Sprint.

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