Game On Dude goes for third San Antonio win

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Game On Dude, the two-time defending winner, goes for a third straight victory Saturday in Santa Anita Park's $200,000 San Antonio Stakes.

The 7-year-old gelding heads a field of seven older thoroughbreds in the 1 1/8-mile prep for the Santa Anita Handicap. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will again be aboard Game On Dude as the pair leave from post 5.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Game On Dude registered a 6 1/2-length victory over Clubhouse Ride in winning last year's San Antonio. Two years ago he won by 5 1/4 lengths over Uh Oh Bango.

Last year, Game On Dude was rolling along with a five race win streak for 2013 until his last two starts. The gelding finished ninth as the 17-10 favorite in the Breeders' Cup Classic and dropped a head decision to Will Take Charge in the Clark Handicap.

Partly owned by Joe Torre, Game on Dude has won 15 of 29 career races for better than $5.7 million.

Blueskiesnrainbows, trained by another Hall of Fame member Jerry Hollendorfer, comes into the San Antonio off a victory in the San Pasqual Handicap. The 5-year-old chestnut horse will be ridden by Martin Pedroza from post 3.

Owned by Bad Boy Racing and Whizway Farms, Blueskiesnrainbows was second in last year's Breeders' Cup Marathon and won the Native Diver at Hollywood Park to close his 2013 season.

With seven wins in 23 career starts, Blueskiesnrainbows has banked $669,552.

From the rail out here is the field for the San Antonio: Willyconker, Fred Perez; American Blend, Joe Talamo; Blueskiesnrainbows, Martin Pedroza; Majestic Harbor, Tyler Baze; Game On Dude, Mike Smith; Blingo, Aaron Gryder and Imperative, Kent Desormeaux.

The approximate post-time Saturday for the San Antonio is 5:30 p.m. (ET).