Santa Anita: Baffert sends trio in strong maiden race Friday

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bob Baffert has three runners in Friday’s sixth race, a $56,000 maiden race for 3-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles which could produce stakes runners.

Baffert starts The Admiral, who was second as the 4-5 favorite in a one-mile race on Dec. 27; Icy Ride, fourth in that race on Dec. 27; and the first-time starter Day of Fury. He considers The Admiral to be his leading chance and said the colt was too close to the pace on Dec. 27.

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Both The Admiral and Icy Ride will take off blinkers. Icy Ride is co-owned by Bode Miller, part of the United States alpine ski team for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in February.

◗ Game On Dude, a finalist for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding older male of 2013, worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 on Wednesday. A 7-year-old, Game On Dude is a candidate for the $300,000 San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 8.