Game On Dude may have caused his backers a bit of concern when he trailed the field in the San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) after a tardy start, but it all worked out for the 3-10 favorite, who romped to victory at Santa Anita.
Game on Dude makes his first start since he nearly pirated the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) last fall when he takes on six opponents in the $200,000 San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 5.
Caracortado, on the short end of the photo in a pair of grade I losses recently, came from behind to defeat Mr. Commons by a nose in a terrific finish to the $200,000 Del Mar Mile (gr. IIT) Aug. 27.
Without Shoemaker Mile (gr. IT) winner Courageous Cat to contend with, the $200,000 Del Mar Mile Handicap (gr. IIT) Aug. 27 became a much more competitive, though still compact, affair.
Headache left favored Awesome Gem behind at the eighth pole and rolled to his first graded stakes win in the $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap (gr. III) at Prairie Meadows on the night of June 25.
The steady veteran Jonesboro angled off the rail for the drive, wore down pacesetting Shadowbdancing in deep stretch to win the $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (gr. II) June 27 in Iowa.
Winless in six starts since capturing last fall's Super Derby (gr. II), My Pal Charlie is the 120-pound high weight for the $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (gr. II) on June 27.
Ventura, a stylish winner of the Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) against her own sex last time out, will take aim at males when she returns to the turf for trainer Bobby Frankel in the $300,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita March 7.
Cowboy Cal is headed to the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) in one month following his hard-fought win in the $250,000 Strub Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 7.
Weather played an unexpected role when turf standout Gio Ponti won the Dec. 26 Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. III), a race transferred from the grass to Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface. Given a freshening since then, he takes the next step on the main track in the $250,000 Strub (gr. II) Feb. 7.
Classy Soldier's Dancer, far back for most of the journey, closed with a rush to overtake Presious Passion in the final 50 yards, winning the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Turf at a soggy Santa Anita Park Jan. 24.
Presious Passion, who bounced back from a ninth-place finish in last year's Sunshine Millions Turf at Gulfstream Park to become a grade I winner, invades Santa Anita for the 2009 renewal Jan. 24.
Odds-on choice El Gato Malo fell from the ranks of the unbeaten when Colonel John held the closer off in the final furlong to win the $200,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita March 1.
West Point Thoroughbreds' El Gato Malo puts his unbeaten record on the line against Colonel John and five others in the $200,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita March 1. Another entrant, Coast Guard, will be scratched due to a minor ankle injury.
| Trainer | Alexis Barba |
|---|---|
| Jockey | Patrick A. Valenzuela |
| Owner | Johnson, Ellen and Peter O. |
| Breeder | American Equistock Inc |
| Victory Pete View Five-Cross Pedigree | Five Star Day | Carson City |
| Reggie V | ||
| Blabby B. | Tabasco Cat | |
| Rakida B |
| Sale / Hip | Type | Buyer | Consignor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBSOCT2005 Hip 920 |
Weanling | Celebrity Farm, agent | ($17,000) | |
| BARMAR2007 Hip 18 |
Two-year-old | Peter O. Johnson | Eddie Woods, agent for American Equistock | $75,000 |
Prices in parentheses indicate a horse did not sell because it did not meet its reserve price.
| California Chrome |
| Rachel Alexandra |
| Upstart |
| Bodemeister |
| Texas Red |
| International Star |
| Far Right |
| Main Sequence |
| Buddy's Saint |
| Calculator |
