'Dude' Works, Baffert Says Gelding is Ready

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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Game On Dude works at Santa Anita.
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A slew of Breeders' Cup-bound horses trained by Bob Baffert worked Oct. 28 at Santa Anita Park, including Game On Dude, the expected favorite for the Nov. 3 Classic (gr. I).

Game On Dude, a two-time grade I winner this year for owners Bernie Schiappa, Joe Torre’s Diamond Pride, Mercedes Stable, and the Lanni Family Trust, worked seven furlongs on the fast main track in 1:25 in his final move before the Classic.

Baffert said after the work that Game On Dude, who came onto the track at about 9 a.m. PDT after the second renovation break, worked "the way he has been working all summer long. It looks like he's ready."

Game On Dude worked in company with Blueskiesnrainbows (six furlongs in 1:13 3/5)

Game On Dude has won twice at the Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, including the 2011 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I). The 5-year-old Awesome Again   gelding prefers to be on the lead or not far from it.

"He's going to be on the lead," Baffert said. "I am not going to change his running style. I think having (Rafael) Bejarano on him helps. He suits him. He can settle him a little bit during the race.

"So far, so good. Everything went pretty smooth today. All my horses worked pretty well today. They look like they're moving forward, not backwards. And that's what you want."

Of the other Baffert horses, Coil, Capital Account, and Fast Bullet, all aiming for the XpressBet Sprint (gr. I) worked :48 1/5, :48 3/5, and :48 1/5, respectively, for four furlongs. Juvenile (gr. I) bound Power Broker and Title Contender worked five furlongs in :59 in company, fastest at the distance, while Contested, headed for the Filly and Mare Sprint (gr. I), worked six furlongs in 1:11 2/5, also fastest at the distance. Fed Biz, destined for the Dirt Mile (gr. I), breezed four furlongs in 48 flat.

"Coil and Capital Account went really nice," Baffert said. "Fast Bullet went real nice, and Power Broker went real nice with Title Contender. Contested worked really fast early but I didn't think she was going that fast."

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