Hollywood Park notes: Game On Dude pointing to San Antonio

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Game On Dude, second in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29 and California’s leading older horse this year, is likely to make his 2014 debut in the $300,000 San Antonio Stakes over 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Feb. 8.

“That’s the most logical spot,” trainer Bob Baffert said on Friday.

The 6-year-old Game On Dude has won the San Antonio Stakes the last two years. Earlier this year, Game On Dude won the San Antonio Stakes as the first of five consecutive graded stakes wins, a streak that ended with a ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

Game On Dude has won 15 of 29 starts and earned $5,707,893.

Broken jaw for Blacker

The 2-year-old filly Water Issues owes trainer Dan Blacker a win in her next start.

Last month, Blacker was aboard Water Issues during training hours when the filly jerked her head upward and struck Blacker in the jaw. Blacker, 31, had a CT scan, and was told that while he did not have a concussion, he had broken his jaw. He has been living with his jaw wired for the last two weeks and has a month to go, he said on Friday.

“It could have been worse,” he said on Friday. “I’ve been riding for 15 years and I’d never had a broken bone. She threw her head up and hit me.

“If she wins next time, she’ll redeem herself.”

Blacker felt slightly better on Friday, a day after he won a maiden claimer with A P Pepper ($5.60), who was claimed for $40,000. Blacker has 14 horses in his stable. Sunday, he runs the first-time starter First Mil in a $50,000 claimer for 2-year-old maidens over 6 1/2 furlongs.

Bejarano suspended

Rafael Bejarano, the leading rider at the meeting, begins a three-day suspension on Sunday for causing interference aboard Battled in the seventh race on Dec. 1.

Bejarano’s suspension continues through next Friday.

Battled finished a half-length in front of Secretsatmidnight in a maiden special weight race over 6 1/2 furlongs, but was disqualified and placed second for drifting out in the stretch. Battled and Secretsatmidnight are trained by Baffert.

Through Thursday, Bejarano led all riders with 23 wins, four more than Joe Talamo and Martin Garcia, who are tied for second with 19 wins.

Three-stakes Saturday

The CashCall Futurity is the final Grade 1 race in track history, and one of three stakes to be run next Saturday.

The other stakes are the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup over 1 1/2 miles and the $150,000 Native Diver Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

Hollywood Park will close permanently for racing on Dec. 22 when the current meeting ends.