Clocker analyzes Classic contenders
Oct 11, 2013 0:02:15 GMT -5
Post by Jon on Oct 11, 2013 0:02:15 GMT -5
If the Classic was this Saturday, who woould you play?
Clocker analyzes Classic contenders
Brisnet
Game On Dude, Fort Larned, Mucho Macho Man and Ron the Greek are top contenders for this year's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on November 2, and private clocker Gary Young has weighed in with some early thoughts regarding the "Fab Four."
Game On Dude finished a disappointing seventh to Fort Larned as the 6-5 favorite in last year's Classic but has put that subpar performance behind him this season, winning all five starts for trainer Bob Baffert. The six-year-old gelding is being trained up to the Classic following an 8 1/2-length romp in the Pacific Classic on August 25.
"Game On Dude is obviously the horse to beat," Young said. "Fort Larned ran a strange race (winning the Homecoming Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs on September 28). He looked like he was going to win by 10, and then he kind of just won (by 1 1/2 lengths). He picked his game up when he won here last year, but he'll have to pick it up this year, off of that race."
Ron the Greek, who finished fourth in the 2012 Classic, will return to Santa Anita with some momentum, posting a resounding 6 3/4-length upset in the September 28 Jockey Club Gold Cup at 21-1 odds.
"Ron the Greek was impressive," Young said. "Just when it looked like he might be fading back into normal race horse land, he comes up with a performance like that. Obviously, he likes this race track after winning the Big Cap last year."
Mucho Macho Man, a half-length second to Fort Larned in last year's Classic, shipped to Santa Anita early and earned his first career Grade 1 victory when scoring by 4 1/4 lengths in the September 28 Awesome Again.
"Mucho Macho Man likes this track, too, but he'll be running against a different (stronger) group (than he met in the Awesome Again)," Young said. "Of those four, Game On Dude would be my top choice, although that's not 'scooping' the world. Fort Larned would be my fourth choice and the other two would be tied for second."
Clocker analyzes Classic contenders
Brisnet
Game On Dude, Fort Larned, Mucho Macho Man and Ron the Greek are top contenders for this year's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on November 2, and private clocker Gary Young has weighed in with some early thoughts regarding the "Fab Four."
Game On Dude finished a disappointing seventh to Fort Larned as the 6-5 favorite in last year's Classic but has put that subpar performance behind him this season, winning all five starts for trainer Bob Baffert. The six-year-old gelding is being trained up to the Classic following an 8 1/2-length romp in the Pacific Classic on August 25.
"Game On Dude is obviously the horse to beat," Young said. "Fort Larned ran a strange race (winning the Homecoming Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs on September 28). He looked like he was going to win by 10, and then he kind of just won (by 1 1/2 lengths). He picked his game up when he won here last year, but he'll have to pick it up this year, off of that race."
Ron the Greek, who finished fourth in the 2012 Classic, will return to Santa Anita with some momentum, posting a resounding 6 3/4-length upset in the September 28 Jockey Club Gold Cup at 21-1 odds.
"Ron the Greek was impressive," Young said. "Just when it looked like he might be fading back into normal race horse land, he comes up with a performance like that. Obviously, he likes this race track after winning the Big Cap last year."
Mucho Macho Man, a half-length second to Fort Larned in last year's Classic, shipped to Santa Anita early and earned his first career Grade 1 victory when scoring by 4 1/4 lengths in the September 28 Awesome Again.
"Mucho Macho Man likes this track, too, but he'll be running against a different (stronger) group (than he met in the Awesome Again)," Young said. "Of those four, Game On Dude would be my top choice, although that's not 'scooping' the world. Fort Larned would be my fourth choice and the other two would be tied for second."