Santa Anita: Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Game On Dude among busy group for Baffert

Benoit & Associates

Game On Dude, shown last month with jockey Rafael Bejarano at Santa Anita, turned in a solid six-furlong workout Sunday in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Led by Game On Dude, the ante-post favorite for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 3, trainer Bob Baffert worked a number of his Breeders’ Cup prospects on Sunday morning at Santa Anita, including the unbeaten filly Executiveprivilege, and his three candidates for the Sprint.

[BREEDERS' CUP 2012: DRF top 10 lists, video replays, latest news]

In addition, trainer Steve Asmussen sent out My Miss Aurelia, who is part of the star-studded cast for the Ladies’ Classic on Nov. 2, and Dust and Diamonds, who is headed to the Filly and Mare Sprint.

All the works took place over a track that was fast despite overnight rain. As on Saturday, it was a cool, cloudy morning here.

Game On Dude could not have been more impressive. With regular rider Rafael Bejarano up, he broke off about four lengths behind Midnight Interlude, caught that horse by the quarter pole, then easily disposed of him down the lane, and galloped out powerfully, all without being asked for anything. His official time was 1:12.20, while Midnight Interlude, winner of the 2011 Santa Anita Derby, was clocked in 1:14.60.

A few minutes later, Coil and Capital Account, both headed to the Sprint, came to the wire together, both under wraps, in a half-mile team drill. Coil, who started just back of Capital Account, got the slightly faster time, 46.60 seconds, to 46.80 for Capital Account.

“They’re warriors. They’re solid,” Baffert said.

Baffert’s third Sprint candidate, the comebacking Fast Bullet, flew solo through the stretch and earned the fastest five-furlong time among 48 at the distance, 58.60 seconds. Fast Bullet closed so strongly that he caught and passed grass specialist Slim Shadey, who was working five furlongs in preparation for the Turf for trainer Simon Callaghan. He was timed in 1:00.

Baffert said Joe Talamo would ride Fast Bullet in the Sprint, while Martin Garcia will be on Coil and David Flores on Capital Account.

Executiveprivilege, pointing to the Juvenile Fillies, had the fastest time among 21 at the distance for six furlongs, 1:12, but she could not catch Super Ninety Nine, who won his debut earlier this meet and is a candidate for the Juvenile Sprint. With Bejarano aboard, Executiveprivilege started three lengths behind Super Ninety Nine, was even with him after three furlongs, but began to lose ground at the quarter pole and was the inferior horse on the gallop out. Super Ninety Nine was given a time of 1:12.80.

[BREEDERS' CUP WORKOUTS: Full DRF coverage, Mike Welsch video reports]

Baffert said he believed Executiveprivilege lost her focus when Bejarano reached up and took a hold turning into the stretch. “He didn’t let her go,” Baffert said.

Baffert said he scoped Executiveprivilege after the work, and that she did not bleed. He said he does not work her with Lasix. She, and all 2-year-olds, will not be permitted to use Lasix in their respective BC races this year.

“The only difference for her is that she won’t get Lasix on race day,” Baffert said. “She never works with Lasix.”

Earlier in the morning, the unbeaten My Miss Aurelia worked six furlongs in 1:12, and Dust and Diamonds went five furlongs in 59.80 seconds.

In addition, Nates Mineshaft, a candidate for the Dirt Mile, worked seven furlongs in 1:24.60 for Richard Mandella, who recently took over as his trainer.

Across town at Betfair  Hollywood Park, Jeranimo, headed to the Mile on turf, worked five furlongs on Cushion Track in 1:01 for trainer Mike Pender.