Can Game On Dude Win a Race Three Years In A Row?

Today, Game On Dude will try to become the second three-time winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (Native Diver won the race in 1965, '66, and '67).  The Santa Anita Handicap has become the Santa Anita Gold Cup, however, but changing it's name does not change the race.  It's contested at one and a quarter miles, the USA's classic Derby distance, on a dirt track.  Past winners include Seabiscuit, Noor, Citation, Gallant Man, Affirmed, Best Pal and Cigar. The race itself has a great history, and some of the greatest horses in the world have raced in it.
   This year, Game On Dude, a 7-year-old gelded son of Awesome Again, is trying to tie the winning record of Native Diver.  He will face six opponents, ranging in age from 4 to six.  Since it is a handicap race, the horses will carry different weights; Game On Dude and four-year-old Lideris have been assigned top weight of 124 pounds (2 pounds less than 3-year-olds carry in the Triple Crown races).  Salto Del Indio, a colt bred in Chile, will carry 121 pounds.  The other four entries, aged 4 to 6, will carry 119 pounds:  Fury Kapcori, Clubhouse Ride, Imperative, and Majestic Harbor.
  "The Dude" has won $6.5 million in his career so far; he will be breaking from post number one, under regular jockey Mike Smith.  Joe Talamo, Gary Stevens and Kent Desormeaux are also riding in the race.  Game On Dude likes to run to the front of the pack and stay there - but there are several other "early speed" horses running, so the race might set up for a horse that runs off the pace, a closer.  For more information regarding the horses and their connections, visit:  http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/race/USA/SA/2014/6/28/8/gold-cup-at-santa-anita-s-gr-i
  And, NBC Sports Network will televise the Santa Anita Gold Cup (no longer the "Big 'Cap") live today; the scheduled post time is 4:45 PDT, and the coverage will last an hour, from 4 to 5 p.m. (or 7 to 8 p.m. EDT).  I'll be rooting for The Dude and Mike Smith.

Game On Dude Wins Third Big 'Cap

Game On Dude raced into history yesterday in the Santa Anita Handicap.  The hard-knocking seven-year-old gelding took the lead out of the starting gate and never looked back.  He broke the stakes record, set by Affirmed, and almost equaled the track record set by Spectacular Bid.  Four-year-old Will Take Charge finished in second place, one and 3/4 lengths behind the Dude.  Blingo came up to catch Mucho Macho Man for the third place purse.  Mucho Macho Man had been the betting favorite, after defeating Will Take Charge by a nose in November's Breeders Cup Classic.

  Game On Dude is the first horse to ever win three Santa Anita Handicap Races.  John Henry, Milwaukee Brew and Lava Man are the only two-time winners of the Big 'Cap.  Yesterday's race was almost a reminder of the 1940 edition, when crowd favorite Seabicuit  was able to win on his third try, after being retired with a bowed tendon....

  

And if you're living in the United States, and live where Daylight Savings Time is in effect, I hope you remembered to turn your clocks forward one hour....

Santa Anita Handicap, the Navy, Old Neighbors

This Saturday, 8 May, the Santa Anita Handicap will be run for the 77th time.  The race is 1 and a quarter miles on the dirt track; this year the purse is worth $750,000; and Fox will show the race live.  This year, there are 8 entries for the race - and the "top three" are incredible horses.  Game On Dude, the winner of the Big 'Cap in 2011 and 2013, will face the first and second-place finishers of the 2013 Breeders Cup Classic (also 1 and 1/4 miles on the dirt) - Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge.  This year's Handicap should be as memorable as the ones in which Seabiscuit competed. ...  Also, rain and high winds cancelled today's "Under Tack Showing" at the Ocala Breeders' Sales; the showing has been rescheduled for tomorrow.
   We had a good time discussing family history at my nephew Mike's condominium after our dinner Tuesday night.  Kathy told the story about how Dad played cards with his friends from the Philippines and Puerto Rico and some of the African-American enlisted men each Friday night.  Dad's CO called him in, and offered him an advancement in becoming an officer - but it would mean that Dad could no longer play cards with his friends, also enlisted men, on Fridays.  Dad declined, and stayed an enlisted man.  He knew very well that the boost in pay, as an officer, could be used at home; he came home that evening, and told Mom that he had turned down the appointment, and why.  Mom cried.  But then she wiped her eyes, and told Dad, "Honey, I'm very happy you stood by your friends.  Friends are better than  money any day."  Mike asked why Dad had decline the promotion, if the pay was so much better.  Kathy told him that "the Officer's Club was lily white."  Poor Mike; we had to explain that if Dad joined the OC, he couldn't speak to anyone of color, unless it was to relay an order.  -  And, I'm very happy that we live in a time when we had to explain that.
  I received sad news yesterday.  We moved to Gainesville, Florida in 1961, and bought the house on 50th Street.  Our next door neighbors were a couple from North Carolina, who had a single daughter, a few years older than Kathy.  Their names were Avaree and Hubert Spurlin; and they were my neighbors for 23 years - until Dad died and Mom sold the house.  A few houses up the street lived the Clevengers - Bud and Molly, and their daughters, Linda (Kathy's age) and Elaine (my age.) Avaree passed away in 1999, as did Bud Clevenger.  Molly and Hubert became good friends, best buddies, and, finally, a couple.  Molly passed away last year.  Hubert passed away yesterday, at the age of 92.  Elaine, my school friend, passed the information along on Facebook.  It certainly brought back many memories.