Clocker analyzes Classic contenders

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."