Thursday workout for Game On Dude is 'eventful'

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Del Mar, CA (Sports Network) - A loose horse during Thursday morning training caused a bit of a problem for the connections of leading handicap horse Game On Dude.

During the 6-year-old gelding's five-furlong workout, a horse lost its jockey near the six-furlong chute at Del Mar. At the same time, Game On Dude and rider Martin Garcia were coming around the stretch turn. The riderless horse was quickly caught as red warning lights flashed and warning buzzers sounded.

Game On Dude, trained by Bob Baffert, worked the five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 4/5 in preparation for the $1 million Pacific Classic on Sunday, Aug. 25.

The gelding will be ridden in the 1 1/4-mile Classic by Joel Rosario wbo rode to victory this spring in the Dubai World Cup with Animal Kingdom and Kentucky Derby aboard Orb. The gelding's regular jockey, Hall of Fame member Mike Smith, will be at Saratoga Race Course the day of the Classic to ride Royal Delta in the Personal Ensign.