Game On Dude benefits from Wise Dan loss

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan suffered his first loss of the year and had his nine-race win streak snapped Saturday allowing Game On Dude to take a commanding lead in the NTRA National Thoroughbred Poll.

Wise Dan, making his first start on a synthetic track, finished second to Silver Max in Keeneland's Shadwell Turf Mile when the race was switched to the main track after heavy rain.

The voters gave Game On Dude 16 more first-place votes over last week, 15 coming from Wise Dan.

In week 32 of the poll, Game On Dude received 47 first-place votes and 515 points. The 6-year-old gelding, trained by Bob Baffert, will make his next start in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

Wise Dan remains second in the voting with three top votes and 440 points. Trained by Charles LoPresti, the 6-year-old gelding is expected to defend his crown in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

"I was a little disappointed that he lost," LoPresti commented, "but he never stopped trying and was gaining on the winner (Silver Max).

"We will make sure he is OK for the Breeders' Cup and go out on the 29th (of October)."

Places three through seven remain unchanged.

Princess of Sylmar has one first-place vote and 398 points followed by Royal Delta (260), Point of Entry (180), Graydar (169) and Will Take Charge (131).

Gaining a spot to eighth is Mucho Macho Man (123) followed by Ron the Greek (1, 109).

Moving into 10th is champion filly Beholder. Winner of the Zenyatta Stakes on Sept. 28 at Santa Anita, Beholder received 83 points to get back into the top 10.

"The filly's very special. I'm very proud of her. She'll go in the ($2 million Breeders' Cup) Distaff (on Nov. 1) after this," trainer Richard Mandella said after the Zenyatta. "She's just a filly that really likes the fight. She likes going to battle and it comes out when the race is run."