Game On Dude

Game On Dude
Game On Dude in 2010 Belmont Stakes
Sire	Awesome Again
Grandsire	Deputy Minister
Dam	Worldly Pleasure
Damsire	Devil His Due
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	April 26, 2007[1]
Country	United States
Colour	Dark Bay
Breeder	Adena Springs
Owner	Diamond Pride LLC, Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable LLC, Bernie Schiappa
Trainer	Bob Baffert
Record	29: 15-6-1 (ongoing)
Earnings	US$5,707,893
Major wins
Lone Star Derby (2010) Santa Anita Handicap (2011, 2013) Goodwood Stakes (2011, 2012) San Antonio Stakes (2012, 2013) Californian Stakes (2012) Hollywood Gold Cup (2012, 2013) Native Diver Handicap (2012) Charles Town Classic (2013) Pacific Classic Stakes (2013)
Honours
California Triple Crown of Horse Racing
Last updated on August 28, 2013

Game On Dude (foaled April 26, 2007 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. As of August 2013 he has won seven Grade I stakes: the Santa Anita Handicap in 2011 and 2013,^[2] the Goodwood Stakes twice (2011, 2012), the 2013 Pacific Classic Stakes,^[3] and the Hollywood Gold Cup twice (2012, 2013).^[4] He has beaten many of the leading North American racehorses including Awesome Gem, Tizway, Ruler on Ice, Uncle Mo, and Stay Thirsty and has been rated among the best thirty racehorses in the world in the annual World Thoroughbred Rankings.

Background

Game On Dude is a dark bay gelding with no white markings bred by the Adena Springs stud of Paris, Kentucky. He was sired by the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again, whose other major winners include Ghostzapper, Oxbow, Wilko and Paynter.^[5]

In September 2008 the yearling was sent to the Keeneland but did not meet his reserve price of $210,000.^[6] He was later sold privately and sent into training with Bob Baffert. He has been ridden by several leading jockeys including Rafael Bejarano, Chantal Sutherland and Mike E. Smith. The horse often races with blinkers and a blue shadow roll.

Racing career

2010: three-year-old season

Game On Dude began his racing career at Gulfstream Park in early 2010, winning a maiden race over one mile at his second attempt. He was then moved up in class to contest three of the preparatory races for the Triple Crown series. After finishing unplaced in the Florida Derby and the Cliff's Edge Derby Trial, he ran in the Grade III Lone Star Derby at Lone Star Park on May 8. Ridden by Martin Garcia, he took the lead in the straight and drew clear of his opponents to record his first significant win by four and a half lengths.^[7] Garcia was again in the saddle when Game On Dude started a 17/1 outsider for the Belmont Stakes on June 5. He challenged for the lead early in the straight before finishing fourth of the eleven runners, two and a half lengths behind the winner Drosselmeyer.^[8] Game On Dude did not race again in 2010: according to Baffert; "He did something to a hind ankle, so I had to stop on him."^[9]

2011: four-year-old season

In 2011, Game On Dude ran eight times and won three races, notably the Santa Anita Handicap and the Goodwood Stakes, both at Santa Anita Park. The Santa Anita Handicap, which provided the gelding with his first Grade I win, was a controversial race. Ridden by Sutherland, he prevailed by a nose from Setsuko but had been involved in an incident in which the favorite, Twirling Candy, had been badly hampered. The result was only confirmed after a lengthy steward's inquiry and was met by boos from the crowd.^[10] That year, he also finished second in the Hollywood Gold Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic.

2012: five-year-old season

As a five-year-old, Game On Dude won the San Antonio Stakes, Californian Stakes, Hollywood Gold Cup, Awesome Again Stakes and Native Diver Handicap. He started 5/4 favorite for the Breeders' Cup Classic but finished seventh behind Fort Larned.^[11]

2013: six-year-old season

Game on Dude began his six-year old campaign with consecutive victories in the San Antonio Stakes, Santa Anita Handicap, Charles Town Classic, Hollywood Gold Cup, and Pacific Classic.

In the Pacific Classic, where he led from the start, his margin of win was a record 8 1/2 lengths. This was his third try at the Classic. With this win, Game On Dude joined Lava Man (in 2006) as the only horses to sweep all three of Southern California's major handicap races in the same year. This win marked a seven-race win streak, including a 5-for-5 campaign in 2013, and with his latest Grade I win is now the richest active horse in North American racing.^{[citation needed]}

The final time recorded in the 2013 Pacific Classic was questioned. According to "Trakus Time," a company that does timing at many tracks, Game On Dude's winning time was 1:59.26, not the Del Mar official time listed at 2:00.69.^[12] However, upon review, officials at Del Mar upheld the official time, which was the third fastest time for the race. He earned a 113 Beyer Speed Figure for his effort. Trainer Baffert was not concerned: "As long as they don’t take the check away, it’s good."^[13] Entered for a third time in the Breeders' Cup Classic, he was the favorite, but again failed to hit the board, finishing ninth out of 11 horses in the field.^[14]

In order to help Game On Dude's chances with the Eclipse Award he was entered in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs. He was second to Will Take Charge by a head.

Assessment

In the 2011 edition of the World Thoroughbred Rankings, Game On Dude was given a rating of 122, making him the twenty-third best racehorse in the world and the fourth best horse trained in the United States.^[15] He improved his mark to 123 in 2012, but slipped to twenty-fifth in the world and sixth in the United States.^[16]

Pedigree

References

External links

• Game On Dude's pedigree and partial racing stats