What's Up Dude stretches out

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - What's Up Dude will try to punch his ticket to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Monday, when he runs in the $270,000 Grey BC Stakes at Woodbine, a race won by 2000 BC Juvenile winner Macho Uno.

What's Up Dude was a three-length winner of his debut July 24 and then came off a six-week layoff to finish third behind Wholelottabourbon in the Silver Deputy Stakes. Most recently, What's Up Dude was an easy winner with the addition of blinkers in the seven-furlong Swynford Stakes.

Trainer Mike Mareina said he believes What's Up Dude would be undefeated had he worn blinkers in the Silver Deputy.

"He should have beaten Wholelottabourbon that day," Mareina said. "He came down the lane loafing. He made up some ground, but never beared down. Putting the blinkers on really focused him a little more on his task in the Swynford. He ran an eight on the 'Rag' sheets and got an 81 Beyer, which is pretty solid for a 2-year-old."

Mareina said the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Grey should be well within What's Up Dude's range.

"He only has to run three-sixteenths farther," he said. "I haven't done a lot with him since [the Swynford]. He's doing excellent."

Mareina didn't rule out the Oct. 30 BC Juvenile at Lone Star Park in Texas if What's Up Dude were to win the Grey. He said he has discussed the possibility with owners Ernie and Trip Kuehne, who are from Dallas.

"It's definitely something that we're going to keep in mind," Mareina said. "It really depends on the kind of race he runs and how he comes out of it. He'd have to run a pretty super race. I've got five horses down there, anyhow, for the next couple of weeks, and I don't think shipping will bother him. He seems to be getting better and stronger, and he's a pretty easy horse to train."

Dance With Ravens, a royally-bred maiden, is the other main contender in the Grade 2 Grey. He hit the board in both of his starts on turf, including a runner-up placing in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes.

An A.P. Indy colt, Dance With Ravens worked three-quarters in a bullet 1:14.60 on the main track

Oct. 3 under jockey Todd Kabel, who said Dance With Ravens handled the surface nicely.

"He worked very well on [the dirt] the other day," Kabel said. "He's still green."

* Wando, the 2003 Canadian Triple Crown winner, returns from a layoff in Sunday's seventh race, an allowance prep for the Bunty Lawless Stakes.