Bejarano to ride Game On Dude over Sutherland

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Leading thoroughbred Game On Dude will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano, instead of Chantal Sutherland, the next time the gelding races.

Trainer Bob Baffert told The Blood-Horse about the jockey change for the top rated Game On Dude.

"Rafael is our main rider and we wanted to have our No. 1 rider on our No. 1 horses," Baffert said to the publication. "With the big fall races coming up, we just felt comfortable having Rafael on Game On Dude.

"It was difficult for me when I told Chantal about the decision. It's been a fun ride and we made history together, but we just felt it was time to make the change."

Game On Dude and Sutherland have teamed up for more than a year winning last year's Santa Anita Handicap and this July's Hollywood Gold Cup. In his most recent start, the 5-year-old gelding was second to Dullahan in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

In five starts this year, Game On Dude and Sutherland won three of five starts for $710,000. Their only finish out of the money was in the Dubai World Cup when they were 12th.