Baffert Says 'Dude on Track for Clark
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Trainer Bob Baffert reported Game On Dude is on schedule for the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Nov. 29, and that only a disagreeable weight assignment would derail the gelding from starting.
Weight assignments for the 140th running of the Clark are scheduled to be announced on Friday, Nov. 22. Nineteen 3-year-olds and up were nominated.
"He's doing really well," Baffert said, "so right now all systems are go. The weight is a factor. He's coming off a loss, so I guess he'll get some consideration."
Game On Dude, a 6-year-old son of Awesome Again , is coming off a ninth-place effort as favorite in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park. Another Clark probable, Will Take Charge, finished second to winner Mucho Macho Man in the Classic.
Previous to the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Game On Dude was on a six-race win streak, including three grade I stakes that dated back to his unplaced effort in the 2012 Classic, won by Fort Larned . In his Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) triumph, Game On Dude carried a career-high 127 pounds.
Owned by Diamond Pride, the Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable and Bernard Schiappa, Game On Dude's career record stands at 28-15-5-1 with earnings of $5,602,138 heading into the Clark.
In two previous starts at Churchill, Game On Dude was runner-up to Drosselmeyer in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic and ran fifth to Hurricane Ike as a 3-year-old in the 2010 renewal of The Cliff's Edge Derby Trial Stakes (gr. III).
In his first work since the Breeders' Cup, Game On Dude worked six furlongs in 1:12 3/5 at Santa Anita Park on Nov. 17, a move that was the fastest of nine that day.
Baffert indicated that Game On Dude would have one more pre-Clark work in California this weekend and will ship to Kentucky Nov. 27.