Throughout the evening, I've had the pleasure of high speed Internet (as opposed to the HughesNet we've struggled with for a few weeks), browsing through Hong Kong racing forms, and watching a Twitter dialogue unfold over one hot topic - Game on Dude vs. Will Take Charge. It is a match-up evenly divided between sides, with some favoring the elder's tactical speed and others expecting the sophomore to come running late.
Let me just say one thing - we are lucky to be even having this debate! In this day and age, when horses often either retire or take a rest after the Breeders' Cup, it's nice to see some of the big guns going out on a limb to either win or secure year-end championships.
Clark Handicap (Friday, November 29th; 5:35 ET)
1. Game On Dude, M. Smith, B Baffert, 126
2. Finnegans Wake, J. Leparoux, D Romans, 116
3. Bourbon Courage, C. Lanerie, K Gorder, 117
4. Golden Ticket, R. Albarado, K McPeek, 120
5. Prayer for Relief, R. Santana, Jr., S Asmussen, 118
6. Easter Gift, J. Rosario, C. Brown, 116
7. Will Take Charge, L. Saez, D W Lukas, 123
8. Our Double Play, F. Torres, P Bauer, 113
9. Jaguar Paw, S. Bridgmohan, S. Lyster, 115
These two will be carrying the top weights in the field, with Game On Dude at 126 and Will Take Charge at a slightly lower 123. They both exit the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) won by Mucho Macho Man, but each of them have different stories to tell regarding that race - while Game On Dude, the expected winner, puttered out at the top of the stretch after sitting off the pace, Will Take Charge came within inches of denying Mucho Macho Man the victory.
If Game On Dude gets an easy early lead and is still there at the far turn, it might be "game over" for his younger rival. However, if he is pressed, or somehow loses that lead, Will Take Charge could do what his name suggests.
A win in this Grade 1 event would put Game On Dude's name back on top for Horse of the Year honors, with wins in all three of California's prestigious Grade 1 handicap events as well. A win by Will Take Charge could cement a three year-old title for the Unbridled's Song colt, especially if fellow sophomore Goldencents throws a clunker in the Cigar Mile (G1). These championships on the line, among other things, are what make this debate so hot.
They are not without a strong supporting cast. Prayer for Relief, a fairly consistent graded stakes runner, is here, as is Golden Ticket, the strong runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) behind Goldencents. Could either of those two - or the other handful entered in the race - steal the spotlight from the headliners?
Familiar narratives play out here - younger versus older, front-runner versus closer, Baffert versus Lukas, and so on and so forth. Which of these two will come out on top? Judging by the looks of Twitter, I don't think there's an agreeable answer for that question.
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