Printer Friendly Page 

Game On Dude poised to surpass John Henry's earnings mark

With a successful title defense, Game On Dude would become North America's all-time richest gelding (Coady Photography) Three-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Game On Dude stretched his legs over the Charles Town oval Thursday morning as he continues preparations for his title defense in Saturday night's Grade 2, $1.5 million Charles Town Classic. The seven-year-old gelding took to the track for a gallop right after the 9 a.m. (EDT) morning training break under his regular exercise rider Dana Barnes. While the gelding is attempting to win the Charles Town Classic for the second time, a victory in the 2014 edition would provide the son of Awesome Again with another milestone. Should the Bob Baffert charge take home the $1 million first place check, Game On Dude would break a long standing racing record and become the highest earning gelding in the history of North American racing, eclipsing John Henry's mark. After closing out his career with a win in the 1984 Ballantine Scotch Classic at the Meadowlands, John Henry's career earnings of $6,591,860 has incredibly stood as the standard for geldings for 30 years. However, with a victory on Saturday night, Game On Dude -- who currently sits third on the all-time list for geldings -- would not only surpass John Henry, but would also become the first gelding to break the $7 million mark in career earnings.

All-Time North American Money Leaders Among Geldings:

Like Game On Dude, two-time reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan is also still active and sure to keep adding to his bankroll.

Post time for the Charles Town Classic remains set for 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night.

In other Charles Town Classic news:

Right before he ventures off to Louisville to call the Kentucky Derby as well as the rest of the Triple Crown, announcer Larry Collmus has another job to reprise -- calling the Charles Town Classic for the third time. 

Collmus, who was named the full time announcer at Churchill Downs after calling the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes for NBC Sports since 2011, has also added the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships to his resume since his first Charles Town Classic call in 2012, calling both Fort Larned and Mucho Macho Man's Breeders' Cup Classic triumphs.

However, in returning to Charles Town, the Maryland native comes back to his roots where he first began following horse racing. One of Collmus' early inspirations was Charles Town's longtime announcer Costy Caras.  Each year he's come back to Charles Town, the announcer who also calls the Gulfstream Park booth home during the winter, has paid tribute to Caras by calling the race following the Charles Town Classic using his distinctive vernacular and tone -- a tradition he plans on reprising on Saturday night.

"I grew up coming to Charles Town and got to know Costy well," Collmus said. "After honoring Costy for the first time a couple years ago, I got so much positive feedback that it's become a bit of a tradition.  I'm looking forward to it."

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com

More Racing Headlines:

Miss Temple City earns hard-fought victory in Matriarch

Annals of Time captures first stakes win in Hollywood Derby

Penn Derby upgraded to Grade 1 for 2017

Miss Temple City headlines Del Mar's closing-day Matriarch

Trio of graded stakes on tap Saturday

Send this article to a friend