Breeders' Cup workouts: Game On Dude shows he's ready to rock

ARCADIA, Calif. – The last of the major workouts at Santa Anita for the 2013 Breeders’ Cup took place Monday, although with more and more horses continuing to arrive from across the United States and Europe, activity during training hours is just beginning to heat up.

What Monday’s Breeders’ Cup work tab lacked in quantity, it made up for in quality, with trainer Bob Baffert’s Classic duo of Game On Dude and Paynter and the well-regarded Distaff contender Beholder all turning in their final major preps in cool weather and under cloudy skies. Monday also marked the first European sighting, with Outstrip, Romantica, and Vorda all getting a chance to stretch their legs for the first time locally.[bc_video_id:308618:]

Game On Dude (Classic) – Nobody worked any better than Game On Dude prior to his disappointing performance in the 2012 Classic, but he certainly gives every indication he’s ready to make amends after working a very impressive five furlongs from the 4 1/2-furlong pole past the wire in 59.19 seconds, with stablemate Amazing Heart proving a willingly target. With Martin Garcia aboard, Game On Dude broke off about six lengths behind his partner, eased closer approaching the quarter pole, fanned well wide by design into the stretch, finally edged ahead nearing the wire, then drew well clear when really starting to accelerate heading into the turn. He covered his final quarter in 23.03 before galloping out strongly to complete six furlongs in 1:12.01. Rating: A-

Paynter (Classic) – Paynter worked in company with Flashback, a top Derby contender this spring before going to the sidelines after finishing second behind Goldencents in the Santa Anita Derby. Somewhat surprisingly, Paynter broke off at the 4 1/2-furlong marker on the rail and about 1 1/2 lengths in front, with the pair just breezing through a 36.86 opening three-eighths. Flashback moved within a half-length of Paynter at the wire, but had to be asked just a bit more to keep pace into the turn. Paynter completed five furlongs to the 7 1/2-furlong pole in 1:00.26 while still cruising along on his own, then edged clear once again after being nudged slightly by Garcia during the gallop-out on the clubhouse turn, responding well to get six furlongs in 1:12.95 and pull up seven-eighths in 1:26.32. Not as eye-catching, perhaps, as Game On Dude’s drill, but a good, solid work for a horse who looks so much better than he did when shipped to Saratoga this summer for the Woodward. Rating: B+

Tap It Rich (Juvenile) – Lightly raced but very promising colt breezed solo, going five furlongs in 1:00.57 from the 4 1/2-furlong pole. He shaded 24 for his final quarter and responded willingly to some light encouragement into the bend to gallop out extremely well, completing six furlongs in 1:13.82 before pulling up seven furlongs in 1:27.39. The one concern would be the fact he had his head cocked inward into and around both turns, drifting out slightly entering the stretch and even further approaching the clubhouse turn, perhaps a sign of his inexperience as he’ll enter the Juvenile off just one start. Rating: B+

Beholder (Distaff) – Broke off at the half-mile pole and appeared to be doing little more than open galloping while kept several paths off the inner rail, but still managed to complete an easy-as-you-please maintenance half-mile in 49.57 with a 24.60 final quarter. Continues to make a good appearance coming out of what was, from all accounts, a sensational work here last week. Rating: B

Secret Circle (Sprint) – Was full of run from start to finish, covering his final three-eighths to the wire in 35.03 despite being angled out three or four paths wide into the stretch, then responded to just some mild urging from Garcia past the finish line to get a half-mile to the seven-furlong pole in 46.96 while continuing to gallop out strongly around the bend. Rating: A-

Book Review (Filly and Mare Sprint) – Was well held leaving the half-mile pole about a half-length in front of workmate Executiveprivilege, who gave her all she could handle to the wire. The pair completed a half-mile in 48.23, with Executiveprivilege about a head best at the finish line while appearing to be going a tad easier. They completed their final quarter in 23.79 before galloping out on even terms into the turn. Rating: B

Justin Phillip (Sprint) – Just a maintenance half-mile, but a pretty impressive-looking one. Cruised away from the pole to go his opening quarter in 24.67, fanned four paths wide by design off the turn, then accelerated nicely, without need of urging, once settling into the stretch. He came home in 24.09 to complete a half-mile in 48.76 before galloping out with very good energy into the bend. Hard-knocking colt appears to be maintaining his good form coming into the Sprint. Rating: B+

Unbridled’s Note (Turf Sprint) – Like Justin Phillip’s work, this was a typical half-mile maintenance run for a Steve Asmussen trainee five days before the race. He was out in 25.02, angled a bit wide into the stretch, and came home in 24.18 to complete four furlongs in 49.20 with a willing gallop-out (five-eighths in 1:02.80) on his own. Rating: B

Outstrip (Juvenile Turf), a little peanut of a colt, was easily the busiest of the three European invaders who trained Monday, jogging a couple of times around the training track before moving to the main track for a routine gallop. Both Romantica (Filly and Mare Turf) and Vorda (Juvenile Fillies Turf) did little more than jog or light gallop over the training track, but both made nice appearances. Strong Mandate bounced out of his work well and turned in a good-looking gallop this morning. Trinniberg also appears to have come out of his fast breeze on Saturday in good order and looked to be enjoying himself jogging a couple of miles the wrong way by the outer rail. Jeranimo was very aggressive this morning, open galloping a mile in 1:55 and change once around from the wire.

Churchill Downs

Fort Larned (Classic) – Third work in nine days for the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner. He went from the five-eighths in fractions of 12.88, 24.94, and 37.76 to the top of the lane. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. encouraged him to cross the wire in 1:01.76 for five furlongs, and he galloped out six furlongs 1:14.89. This was a good move, but not nearly as good as the one prior to last year’s race. Rating: B

– additional reporting by Mike Vesce