Charles Town Classic Stakes; New Shoes for Dude

Charles Town Classic Stakes; New Shoes for Dude: The 6th running of the Charles Town Classic Stakes at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is set to take place in Charles Town, West Virginia on Saturday, April 19, 2014. As one of the richest races in the world, the GII 1 1/8 mile dirt handicap race for four-year-olds and up carries a $1,500,000 purse awarding the first place finisher a cool million. Defending his title, Game On Dude is back in the Charles Town Classic Stakes to claim his million-dollar prize wearing a new pair of properly fitted horseshoes!

Game On Dude is in much better shape for this year’s edition of the Charles Town Classic Stakes because he’ll be wearing good shoes. DRF reported (read full story here) that the gelding won the 2013 Charles Town wearing “glue-on shoes that don’t have toe grabs, which provide for better traction.”

Trainer Bob Baffert reported to DRF.com, “I think he’s better now than he was this time last year for this race. He looks really good.”

The 2014 Charles Town Classic Stakes morning line favorite Game On Dude comes in with 4-5 odds. Defending champion Charles Town Classic Stakes winner Game On Dude most recently won the Santa Anita Handicap on March 8th at Santa Anita Park. Trained by Bob Baffert, Game On Dude gets jockey Mike Smith for the Charles Town Classic Stakes. This will be Mike Smith’s 5th consecutive ride on Game On Dude. The eight-year-old gelding has won 16 races out of a total of 31. The Awesome Again-Worldly Pleasure, by Devil His Due has competed three times in the Breeders’ Cup Classic finishing 2nd in 2011. Recent reports reveal Game On Dude is “happy and doing very well.”

If Game On Dude wins the 2014 Charles Town Classic Stakes, he’ll be the highest earning gelding making over $7 million. Lady and The Track would like to wish Joe Torre, Bernie Schiappa, Mercedes Stable, Lanni Family Trust, Trainer Bob Baffert, Jockey Mike Smith, and the talented Game On Dude the best of luck in the CT Classic Stakes!

The 2014 Charles Town Classic Stakes is the 12th race of the day at Hollywood Casino with a 10:30 PM EDT.

Related Links:
What to wear to the Charles Town Classic

Charles Town Classic Stakes 2014 Post Positions & Odds
1 Clubhouse Ride 6/1 Baze/Lewis
2 Moreno 3/1 Rosario/Guillot
3 Game On Dude 4/5 Smith/Baffert
4 Ruler of Love 20/1 Montano/Scott
5 Long River 6/1 Ortiz, Jr./McLaughlin
6 Lucy’s Bob Boy 12/1 Bocachica/Dono
7 Imperative 20/1 Desormeaux/Papaprodromou

Watch Game On Dude win the 2013 Charles Town Classic Stakes: