Game On Dude invades to win Lone Star Derby

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Trainer Bob Baffert continued his stranglehold on the Lone Star Derby on Saturday, when Game on Dude gave him his fourth win in the race since Anet took the inaugural running in 1997.

Baffert's other winners were Wanna Runner in 2006, and Mythical Power in 2009.

This year's shared a program with two divisions of the $100,000 Texas Stallion Stakes to make for one of the major stakes cards of the meet at Lone Star.

Game On Dude ($4.40) settled more than five lengths off of pacesetter Henshin Hero, who easily move to the lead at the start of the 1 1/16-mile race and led through an opening quarter in 22.87 seconds, the half-mile in 46.34 and six furlongs in 1:11.03. Game On Dude launched a strong move on the final turn, overtook Henshin Hero into the stretch and went on to a 4 1/2-length win, covering the distance on a fast track in 1:44.61.

"He ran really impressive,"said Martin Garcia, who was aboard Game On Dude. "That's the way he won the first time. Today, he showed that he can run."

The win was the second from five starts for Game On Dude, who added blinkers Saturday. He won his maiden in a one-turn mile race at Gulfstream Park in February. He came into the Lone Star Derby off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Derby Trial at Churchill Downs on April 24.

Game On Dude, a son of Awesome Again, races for Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, and Bernard Schiappa.

Crider rallied for second in the Lone Star Derby, while it was another 3 1/2 lengths back to Henshin Hero in third.

Calhoun, Walker sweep Stallion Stakes

Trainer Bret Calhoun and jockey Bobby Walker Jr. swept both divisions of the Texas Stallion Stakes, with Coyote Legend ($3) rolling to a 7 1/4-length win in the .

The races were for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

Coyote Legend stalked the pace and opened up on the field through the stretch to win his fifth straight stakes in the Stymie. He races for his breeder, Clarence Scharbauer Jr.

Tin Top Cat won by a head over Dixieland Baby for owners Jerry Durant and Bill Jordan.

* Attendance ontrack was 8,115.