Game on Dude, fellow Baffert trainees headline busy Santa Anita BC tab

The blitz towards the Breeders' Cup continued at mach speed Sunday morning at Santa Anita as several major players worked for their engagements in the World Championship events at The Great Race Place on November 2-3, headed by Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Game on Dude.

The five-year-old Awesome Again gelding worked six furlongs in company with stablemate Midnight Interlude and was clocked in 1:12 1/5 with regular rider Rafael Bejarano in the saddle. Last year's Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude went in 1:14.60.

"He went really nice," Bob Baffert said about Game on Dude. "I really liked it. Everything went smooth."

Asked if Game on Dude was in optimum form for the 1 1/4-mile Classic, in which he was second to Drosselmeyer last year after leading into deep stretch at Churchill Downs, Baffert said, "He's been like this all year long. He's been really good ever since he came back from Dubai."

"Her work didn't go as smooth as I wanted it to because she was too far back," Baffert said of Executiveprivilege. "(Bejarano) grabbed a hold of her and then she lost interest, but she worked good."

Super Ninety Nine, who is under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint, was clocked in 1:12 4/5. The chestnut son of Pulpit captured his maiden debut at Santa Anita on October 7 by 1 1/4 lengths.

Coil and Capital Account, separated by just a head when one-two in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (formerly Ancient Title) on October 6, also worked in tandem for Baffert, going four furlongs in :46 3/5 and :46 4/5, respectively, for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Coil's time was the fastest of 45 recorded at the distance.

Fast Bullet, unbeaten in two starts but idle since last November, also worked for Baffert, going a solo five-eighths in a bullet :58 3/5, after which the Hall of Fame trainer said the Speightstown four-year-old would be pre-entered for the Sprint, giving him three possible starters in the six-furlong race. Baffert said Santa Anita jockey leader Joe Talamo rides Fast Bullet in the Sprint.

"I thought both traveled really well," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "Both fillies are doing good."

Elsewhere on Santa Anita's main track Sunday, Grade 2 victor Nates Mineshaft readied for the Dirt Mile with a seven-furlong move in 1:24 3/5 for trainer Richard Mandella.

"The horse worked very well," Mandella said of the Mineshaft five-year-old who hasn't competed since a third-place run in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap in mid-June. Mandella added that he planned to pre-enter Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante nose runner-up Beholder in both the Juvenile Sprint and Juvenile Fillies.

Trainer Troy Taylor's recent Grade 3 British Columbia Premier's Handicap winner Commander geared up for the Marathon with a half-mile exercise in :48 3/5.

Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship (formerly Clement Hirsch) victor Slim Shadey went five furlongs in 1:00 for Simon Callaghan ahead of the Turf.

According to trainer Dale Romans, Shackleford, runner-up in last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs, will breeze Saturday for the final time in preparation for a start in this year's edition of that contest.

A winner of the Preakness Stakes last year, and both the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes and Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap this year, the chestnut son of Forestry has developed an extensive following via social media, according to Laura Herman, a representative of daleromansracing.com.

"We've had thousands of requests from people who would like to meet 'Shack'," Herman explained. "So we've decided to do a Meet and Greet this Saturday after he works. He's supposed to work at about 8 a.m. (PDT), and we want to invite his fans to come out to Clockers' Corner and see him on the track. Dale will be making an in-person appearance on HRTV after the work, and at that time he'll let everyone know what plans lie ahead for Shackleford."

Santa Anita Park and the Romans stable will then oversee a tour for all those wishing to make the trek to Barn 76 at 11 a.m. Romans will make Shackleford available for photos and will be on hand to answer questions and sign memorabilia until noon. The Shackleford Tour will assemble at Clockers' Corner prior to 11 a.m.