Saturday’s Awesome Again Stakes provided little drama as Game On Dude, sent to post as the 3/10 betting favorite, stalked the early speed of Winning Machine, went by the leader willingly on the far turn and was never seriously threatened by any of his rivals in the final quarter mile.
Awesome Again Stakes 2012: Game On Dude Rolls To The Classic (Video)
The victory was Game On Dude’s second in a row in the Awesome Again, although the race was called the Goodwood Stakes prior to 2012.
Nonios put his lackluster Travers run behind him to finish a good second, four lengths clear of third place horse Richard’s Kid. Rail Trip ran evenly to finish fourth.
At the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs, Game On Dude came within a length and a half from giving trainer Bob Bafffert his first victory in the Classic. This year, with the Classic occurring over their home track of Santa Anita Park, Baffert and Game On Dude will be one of the betting favorites to avenge their defeat from a year ago.
Game On Dude is a son of the horse for which this race was named: 1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Awesome Again.
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