Game On Dude, second in the Charles Town Classic (gr. II) in 2011, is among the 52 nominees for and an expected entrant in this year's $1.5 million race at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races April 20.
Game On Dude, owned by Diamond Pride, Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, and Bernie Schiappa, won the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) this year for the second time in three years for trainer Bob Baffert. The 6-year-old Awesome Again gelding is tentatively scheduled to arrive at Charles Town April 16, track officials said.
The Charles Town Classic, which offers $1 million to the winner this year, is raced at 1 1/8 miles around three turns.
Repole Stable's Caixa Eletronica, winner of last year's Charles Town Classic, is nominated again for trainer Todd Pletcher, while trainer Bill Mott has nominated Preston Stable's Flat Out and Brous Stable, Wachtel Stable, and Jack Hammer's Ron the Greek.
Entries for the Classic will be drawn April 17. Some of the nominees also have been nominated for the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II), to be run April 13 at Oaklawn Park.
Nominations for other stakes on the Charles Town Classic program, including the $200,000 Sugar Maple presented by CANTER Mid-Atlantic, will close April 10. Post time for the first race April 20 is 5 p.m. EDT, with the Charles Town Classic slated for 10:30 p.m.
