Baffert: ‘If Game On Dude was a human, he’d be just like Joe (Torre)’

Baffert: ‘If Game On Dude was a human, he’d be just like
Joe (Torre)’

Game On Dude has the homefield advantage in the BC Classic (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) Trainer Bob Baffert galloped all eight of his Breeders’ Cup runners Wednesday morning at Santa Anita, including his two Classic starters Game On Dude and Paynter. Baffert has spoken all week about how he’s expecting big things from Game On Dude and how he believes the amazing comeback horse Paynter will be “right there” at the finish of the 1 1/4-mile Classic. He said more of the same Wednesday morning, then spoke about a special connection that his potential Horse of the Year hero Game On Dude has. “I called (legendary baseball manager) Joe Torre (who is one of the owners of Game On Dude) the other day after ‘Dude’ worked so well,” Baffert said. “He was in a meeting about umpires and he had to call me back. But when he did, he was really fired up. He’s into this horse. “If Game On Dude was a human, he’d be just like Joe — kind and classy. What a gentleman and nice guy he is. Joe’s low-key, but he’s really excited about this horse.” Janis Whitham’s defending Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Fort Larned had an easy first morning on Wednesday at Santa Anita, walking outside of Barn 99 with exercise rider Katie Merritt up. “He worked Monday at Churchill Downs and then had a long flight yesterday,” trainer Ian Wilkes said. “Actually this is what he did last year only he did it at Churchill Downs because we came in a day later.” The plane bringing Fort Larned to Santa Anita left Louisville shortly after 2 p.m. (EDT) Tuesday afternoon, made a one-hour stop in Oklahoma City and arrived at Ontario International shortly before 5 p.m. (PDT).

Wilkes said Fort Larned would gallop the next two mornings,
going out at 6:30 a.m. (PDT) each day in his quest to become the second two-time winner of
the Classic, joining Tiznow (2000-01).

Fort Larned has the pedigree to accomplish the repeat. His
grandmother, Bayakoa, won the Distaff in 1989 at Gulfstream Park and in 1990 at
Belmont Park.

Dogwood Stable’s Belmont Stakes victor Palace Malice galloped at
Santa Anita Wednesday morning, readying for his 10th start of the year in
Saturday’s Classic. The three-year-old son of Curlin hasn’t missed a beat since launching
his 2013 campaign at Gulfstream on January 19.

“It says a lot about him, physically and mentally, that
he’s been able to do that,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He seems to thrive on
it, actually. He’s gained weight through the process and has gotten bigger and
stronger as he’s gone along.”

Not that everything has gone smoothly, particularly early
in the season when he encountered traffic and rough trips in prep races for the
Kentucky Derby, and the Derby, itself.

“It was frustrating but it made winning the Belmont that much more
satisfying,” Pletcher said, who believes Saturday’s Classic will be a stiff challenge for all 12 horses
entered.

“It’s a really deep field. It’s one of those things where
you wouldn’t be surprised if a number of different horses win it. Fort Larned to
win it again it wouldn’t surprise you. If Mucho Macho Man, judging by the way he
ran in the Awesome Again, won it, it wouldn’t surprise you. Game On Dude
certainly wouldn’t surprise you. And you’re not even talking
about Ron the Greek, Flat Out, Palace Malice or Will Take Charge. It’s a nasty
race.”

Trainer Bill Mott’s veteran duo of
Flat Out and Ron the Greek both galloped on the main track Wednesday. Ron the Greek
went to the paddock and stood at the gate, but Flat Out, who has made 27 career
starts and was third in the 2012 Classic, went out too late to participate in
the schooling.

Flat Out finished third in the Classic last year, ahead of Ron the Greek in
fourth. Mott noted that they were the only two horses that managed to make
closing runs, though they fell well short of the top two finishers, Fort Larned
and Mucho Macho Man, who battled on the lead.

Earlier this year, Flat Out won the Westchester and Suburban Handicaps in New
York and Ron the Greek turned in an eye-popping performance on September 28 to
win the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.

Ron the Greek has been a “good servant” according to Mott (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) Ron the Greek’s Gold Cup surprised Mott, who said the Full Mandate six-year-old is very dependable but rarely able to pair top efforts. He hasn’t had back-to-back wins since late in 2011. “We’re not disappointed,” Mott said. “He has been such a good servant for us and what a wonderful horse to be around. He’s just the kindest, nicest horse. He’s kind of a barn favorite. He doesn’t owe us anything. Neither horse owes us anything. Whatever they do and win on Saturday it’s all a bonus.” Flat Out and Ron the Greek are part of group of five runners — the top four finishers and beaten favorite Game On Dude — that are returning for another start in the Classic. Mott said the quality of competition matches what lined up for the $5 million purse 12 months ago. “It’s a great field. Good, solid horses,” he said. “It’s a lot of the same horses that were in here last year. It’s great that those horses can stick around and be back for more.”

Mott said that his horses seem to be under the radar a bit
while most of the attention is on the likes of Game On Dude, Fort Larned and
Mucho Macho Man.

“Because they’ve beaten each other and they have been a
factor in every race, but they haven’t been the dominant force,” Mott
remarked.
“It’s amazing how quickly people get off horses. They get off of Royal Delta and
I haven’t heard anything about Wise Dan after he runs second one time. It’s
almost like people get off of them a little bit.

“Fort Larned is the returning champion and Game On Dude
hasn’t been beaten in a while. They’re just so obvious. People don’t look past
the fact that they won their last race sometimes. I don’t know that that’s
always the most important factor. It’s good to see them coming off a good race.”

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Mucho Macho
Man galloped 1 1/2 miles before visiting the Santa Anita paddock Wednesday morning. Stable manager Finn Green liked what he saw from the
five-year-old bay.

“He did great. He knows what’s going on,” Green said. “He’s
a professional. He’s happy, very, very happy.”

Green credited trainer Kathy Ritvo with making Mucho Macho
Man, who earned his first Grade 1 victory with a 4 1/4-lenth romp in the Awesome
Again last out, a happy horse.

“Kathy’s done a great job. She’s a good horsewoman, a very,
very good horsewoman. She pays attention to detail. She knows her horses,” Green
said. “She’s on his legs every day. She put the bandages on his legs this
morning. I think she’s one of the most underrated trainers around.”

It was a routine day for Will Take
Charge as trainer D. Wayne Lukas sent him out for a 1 1/2-mile gallop Wednesday.

“The colt is doing really well,” Lukas said.

As for three-year-old runners going against older horses in the
Classic, Lukas added, “Historically, three-year-olds have done well in the Classic. I
won with Cat Thief, so I don’t worry about the age thing.”

As for how the race might shape up, he said, “You have a
good blend of early speed, middle-of-the-race stalkers and late runners. It
should be an honest pace and a good race.”

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