Game on Dude tries for San Antonio hat trick; tough group go in San Marcos

Game on Dude was an easy winner of the past two editions of the San Antonio (Benoit Photos)

Game on Dude closed out 2013 with a pair of heartbreaking losses, but the
dark bay gelding could put all that behind him on Saturday when seeking a third
straight victory in the Grade 2, $300,000
San
Antonio at Santa Anita. The Bob Baffert trainee will be making his
seven-year-old debut in the same race as his five- and six-year-old bows, and
will keep regular rider Mike Smith in the irons.

Game on Dude captured the 2012 San Antonio by 5 1/4 lengths, then went on
that year to add wins in the Awesome Again, Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap,
Californian and Native Diver to his resume. Last season, he followed a 6
1/2-length romp in the San Antonio with scores in the Santa Anita Handicap,
Charles Town Classic, Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap and Pacific Classic.

Blueskiesnrainbows is seeking a hat trick of his own (Benoit Photos)

Blueskiesnrainbows will do his best to disrupt Game on Dude’s celebration
while seeking his third straight graded victory under Martin Pedroza. The pair
teamed up to take the Native Diver in mid-December, then wired the San Pasqual
last out by 1 1/4 lengths for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The five-year-old son
of English Channel will be looking for a bit of revenge against Game on Dude,
after being thoroughly beat by that rival in last August’s Pacific Classic, and
appears to be rounding into the perfect form to turn the tables on the likely
heavy favorite.

Majestic Harbor finished second to Blueskiesnrainbows in the San Pasqual
after jockey Tyler Baze lost the whip late in the race. It was the Rockport
Harbor six-year-old’s first start for new trainer Sean McCarthy, and the change
in barns may have done Majestic Harbor good as it was his first stakes credit in
six tries. Baze will be holding the reins, and hopefully the whip, on Saturday.

Jeranimo faces a talented and full field in the San Marcos (Benoit Photos)

The competitive contest will see the top four from the January 4 San Gabriel
square off once again. Jeranimo got the best of his rivals on that day,
defeating Slim Shadey by 1 1/4 lengths with Artic North another 1 1/2 lengths
back in third. Utopian rounded out the first four under the San Gabriel wire,
and that quartet will reunite for a showdown in the San Marcos.

Also renewing a rivalry in the San Marcos will be the top three from the
December 14 Hollywood Turf Cup in Lucayan, Temeraine and Segway, while Vagabond
Shoes makes his seven-year-old bow in this spot off a close fifth-placing in the
Breeders’ Cup Turf.