Bob Baffert said Saturday morning a final decision on whether Game On Dude
runs in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 2 would not be made until the
gelding works Sunday and Baffert sees weight assignments for the Big ‘Cap, a
race Game On Dude won in 2011.
“We’ll see how he works and what the weights are,” Baffert said. “Everything
has to be really good. Otherwise, we’ll look at the Charles Town Classic (Grade
2 worth $1.5 million at 1 1/8 miles on April 20).
“It’s worth $1 million to the winner, and that’s like two Big ‘Caps ($450,000
to the winner), and I know he likes that track.”
Game On Dude was second under 123 pounds to Duke of Mischief on a sloppy
track in the Charles Town Classic on April 16, 2011.
When
weights were released later Saturday for the Big ‘Cap, Game On Dude was
assigned the top impost of 125 pounds, three more than defending champion Ron
the Greek with 122.
Other probables for the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap, with their weight
assignments, are Called to Serve (118), Richard’s Kid (118), Guilt Trip (117),
Handsome Mike (117), Stephanoatsee (116),
Clubhouse Ride (115) and Tritap (115).
Crystal Water winner John Scott will pass on the Big ‘Cap, according to
trainer Carla Gaines, who will look for a spot yet to be determined.
In other Big ‘Cap news, Craig Lewis doesn’t put Clubhouse Ride in the same
class as former stars he trained like Larry the Legend and Cutlass Reality, but
if the five-year-old Candy Ride horse wins the rich and prestigious Santa Anita
Handicap, the trainer might have to reevaluate his thinking.
Larry the Legend was a rags-to-riches stakes winner who scored his signature
victory in the 1995 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Cutlass Reality won four graded
stakes at Hollywood Park in 1988, highlighted by the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup.
Clubhouse Ride has a way to go to reach that status for the 65-year-old
Lewis, a native Los Angelino who resides in Arcadia and is a major fan of the
San Francisco 49ers.
Clubhouse Ride finished 6 1/2 lengths behind Game On Dude in the Grade 2 San
Antonio Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on February 3. Only four horses started in that
otherwise paceless race, giving Game On Dude yet another advantage, as if he
needed it, being the favorite at five cents on the dollar.
“We’re hoping to get a more favorable scenario for Clubhouse Ride in the Big
‘Cap than we did when Game On Dude beat us in the San Antonio,” Lewis said, “but
it might help a couple other good horses, too, like Ron the Greek.”
Ron the Greek won the Big ‘Cap last year from well off the pace, and if he
runs against Game On Dude, it would mark the first time in the race’s 76-year
history that two Santa Anita Handicap winners ran in the same Big ‘Cap.
Clubhouse Ride, owned by the Six-S Racing Stable headed by Murrey Seidner of
Glendora and Nikolas Petralia, already has earned more than 20 times his
purchase price of $22,000 at the 2010 Barretts January mixed sale, with $469,620
in the coffers, this despite winning only three of 25 starts.
“He’s a nice horse, a cool horse,” Lewis said. “He does everything well. He’s
a fun horse to be around. He’s got a very good way about him; good temperament,
good behavior, a nice horse in every way, and he makes money.”
Aaron Gryder, who has ridden Clubhouse Ride in his last seven starts, winning
once, retains the mount in the Big ‘Cap.
“He rode him great in the San Antonio,” Lewis said. “Game On Dude was just
too good and things went his way.
“With a bigger field, better horses and a longer distance in the Santa Anita
Handicap, it’s either going to hurt us or help us. That’s what we’re going to
find out. Clubhouse Ride isn’t in a league with Larry the Legend or Cutlass
Reality yet, but we almost got the money in the 20`1 Santa Anita Handicap with
Quindici Man (who finished third to Game On Dude, beaten a half-length at
69-1).”
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