07/08/2012 4:58PM

Hollywood Park: Game On Dude, Richard’s Kid heading to Del Mar

By Steve Andersen
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Shigeki Kikkawa
Game On Dude, ridden by Chantal Sutherland, wins the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup by 1 1/2 lengths over his stablemate Richard's Kid.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The late summer racing schedule for Hollywood Gold Cup winner Game On Dude will not be finalized until next month.
Saturday, Game On Dude won his third stakes of 2012 in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Betfair Hollywood Park, holding off stablemate Richard’s Kid to win the race over 1 1/4 miles by 1 1/2 lengths. The win gave trainer Bob Baffert a sweep of the Gold Cup exacta.

Sunday, Baffert reiterated his plans for Game On Dude and Richard’s Kid in coming months. Both will be sent to Del Mar next week, where they will resume training.

Game On Dude’s participation in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 26 depends on how he trains over the track’s Polytrack surface. Last year, Game On Dude finished fourth in the Pacific Classic, losing by 4 1/4 lengths to Acclamation in his only start of the meeting.

Baffert said he was not happy with the way that Game On Dude handled the Polytrack.

“Last year, he didn’t train well,” Baffert said Saturday. “If he trains well, I’ll run him. If not, I’ll freshen him up.”

On Sunday, Baffert said he would consider a stakes at Saratoga for Game On Dude. One such option could be the $750,000 Woodward Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 1.

“I wouldn’t rule it out,” Baffert said of Saratoga.

Game On Dude is owned by Bernie Schiappa, the Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, and Joe Torre. Game on Dude’s win in the Gold Cup gave jockey Chantal Sutherland the distinction of being the first woman rider to win the race in its 73rd running.

“It’s pretty exciting that it got to me,” she said in the winner’s circle.

There is no doubt about plans for Richard’s Kid, who adores Del Mar’s Polytrack. The 7-year-old horse won the Pacific Classic in 2009 and 2010 and was second in the 2009 Cougar II and third in the same race a year later.

In the Gold Cup, Richard’s Kid was sixth in a field of seven to early stretch and closed through the stretch to finish a clear second, 6 1/4 lengths in front of Kettle Corn.

Ronnie Malo Rodriguez More than 1 year ago
The other older horse that figures here is ACCLIMATION who won this race last year, I believe is running again. Which also brings to mind which Turf horse can come to SA and possibly spring an ARCANGUES type of upset this year in the BC
Bsb Jaws More than 1 year ago
Game on Dude didn't dislike Del Mar. What he didn't like was running against a way better horse !! He got outrun & Chantel got outrode by a real jock. Acclamation is a front runner with a stretch kick. He doesn't meander home in 26 &change. Baffert is making excuses in advance. If Acclamation doesn't run Dude will run at Del Mar. If Acclamation runs Dude better go east for the easy pickin's. Baffert has claimed in the past that Dude didn't like Hollypark. Thats standard trainer speak after a loss.
Grass Is Greener More than 1 year ago
Excellent observation. Check out the beginning of the race, PVal intentionally guided Acclaimation 2 paths out at the start to intimidate Chantal, and Game on Dude was hard held for about a half mile until they got to the backstretch. And then when the real racing begin, it was Rosario and Twirling Candy ranging up 3 wide this time, reminiscent of Twirling Candy ranging up in the Big Cap earlier in the year. What did Chantal do this time? Still mindful of the chicken left handed whipping around the clubhouse turn that turned Twirling Candy into a pinball, this time Chantal went with right handed urging rounding the clubhouse turn. Game on Dude never really liked the whip, so he shied away from it, drifted inside and ended up directly behind Acclamation's rear end when they straighten away. What the hell? Both Rosario and PVal were just hand riding at that point, and Game on Dude actually lost ground after the whipping. Chantal's ride was horrible that day. She was wrongfully accused of stop riding in the 2011 BC Classic. Drosselmeyer was coming with such a full head of steam that there really wasn't anything that she could do about it. But she did cost Game on Dude the 2011 Hollywood Gold Cup. She stopped riding after it became clear that Twirling Candy wasn't gonna get by, but she failed to pick up First Dude until it was way too late. She is just a mediocre rider, but Game on Dude loves her. He ran even worse in the Lone Star Park Handicap and the Charles Town Classic without her. Well, love is a crutch even when it comes to thoroughbred race horse and jockey relationships.
Ronnie Malo Rodriguez More than 1 year ago
Would love to see a 3 year old go in the Pacific Classic just to get an idea if they can compete with the older horses. I believe they can. Would love to see Liason in there or maybe Nonios.
Grass Is Greener More than 1 year ago
perfect spot for Dullahan!!
Ronnie Malo Rodriguez More than 1 year ago
Yessss I agree. I just want to see some east coast trainers send some bc hopefuls west to gauge if they like the track.
Gregory A Rodriguez More than 1 year ago
horses are like any other animals// some tennis players perform better on clay than natural grass/ some football players play better on natural grass, rather than astroturf/// and some athletes excel on both .Abu.
Ronnie Malo Rodriguez More than 1 year ago
Astro turf haha i remember that one waaayyyyy back when the astros played on it.
Joe Labunski More than 1 year ago
Just bring him to Saratoga...that nice fresh late summer air will do him some good....
Gee More than 1 year ago
One thing for sure Chantel needs great horses to win races
Coniah Boda More than 1 year ago
That might be true, but it might be unfair to say that at this point, seems she's always riding bad horses. Put Mike Smith on pretty much all of her other mounts and he's not gonna do anything with them either. Hopefully she gains some recognition while riding Game On Dude and gets a couple better mounts in the future.
B More than 1 year ago
Game On Dude can't run on this. Richard's Kid can't run on that. Really, really good horses can run on just about anything.
Meydan Rocks More than 1 year ago
B - Was that you up on the dais last year receiving the Eclipse award for trainer of the year? I can't seem to remember if it was last year or the year before. Refresh my memory Maestro! ;-)
Jerry More than 1 year ago
B B B YOU CAN T BE SERIOUS....read up on things like this , before you make such comments.....most horses ,good or otherwise , have a preference of surfaces that they are fond of...you are EXCUSED...have a nice day....
Grass Is Greener More than 1 year ago
So You Think couldn't win on dirt and synthetic. Bum! Curlin couldn't win on grass and synthetic. Bum bum! Secretariat couldn't beat older horses going 12 furlongs at Belmont. Bumbedeebum! Holy Bull couldn't handle off track after he turned 3, Bum bum bum! Einstein won G1 on turf and synthetic, and G2 on dirt in the Clark Handicap which is now a G1. Really really good horse, better than those bums. Right?
RunningDog More than 1 year ago
Surpised you are stil posting after finding out today Redham was only offered 3 million for IHA. I knew for a fact last week it was under 5MM. Just was curious how long you would stick to your 20MM number.
Grass Is Greener More than 1 year ago
I've been wrong so many times before I'm not shy of being wrong again. I was right about my $20,000 per live foal stud fee though. I also don't completely buy the number. I would understate it too in order to pay less taxes. I've done that many times too.
Bsb Jaws More than 1 year ago
Einstein was a really good horse. He was real big but not overly muscular. He was a sleek looking sucker. Like a panther. Soft as black velvet. He would have made a great movie Black Stallion. He could run some too. ;-) Good horses can usually run on anything. Curlin loved synthetic !! Oh yeah ! He ran the best and fastest 10f of his life at Santa Anita ! Unfortunately for him he wasn't that much caballo so he lost. It damn sure wasn't because he didn't like synthetic !! So You Think loved Churchill dirt. He handled it beautifully and ran his race ! He didn't care much for an American pace though. He prefers a euro-jog. He didn't like having to pick up his hooves for more than the last 3/16ths. According to his trainer, Holy Bull got drugged/poisoned before the derby ? Considering the reputation of the self admitted race cheat Dr. Alex Harthill aka Dr. Derby, Churchills Downs track vet , it doesn't seem far fetched to me. Biancone probably got that cobra venom from Ol' Doc' Derby's leftover stockpile of unlabeled bottles !! BSB
Grass Is Greener More than 1 year ago
Paynter looked like that too, but he's already more muscular like a warhorse. He will grow up to look more like So You Think. I think he will also turn out to be better than Bodemeister. It was a horrible ride by Albarado on Curlin in the BC Classic. It's no concidence that Curlin's two best races were with Street Sense in the field. There was somebody else to tell Albarado exactly when to move on Curlin. Otherwise he never seemed to know exactly where to place him or when to move him. It's so weird that neither Holy Bull or Dancer's Image's connection publicly named Dr. Harthill as the potential villain. They both claimed foul plays but there's no bite in their claims. Or was it simply not reported? Somehow Churchill Downs and the good doctor convinced or paid off the numerous publications to keep their names off of it?