In the days before the 77th Santa Anita Handicap, the race seemed to create a relapse well before the horses even stepped on the track.
On the street it was known that three main names were associated with this renewal of the largest horse race in California. The first was Game on Dude, one of only four horses to catch the massive cap twice. Next came Mucho Macho, winner of the Breeder 'Cup Classic in Santa Anita Park last autumn. And rounded off that the trio will take responsibility, the 3-year champion 2013 second place of the 3-year-old male and Breeders' Cup.
On Wednesday, March 5, everyone was confirmed for the massive cap. When I learned that, the excitement overtook me. I had to see what would develop about this 1 ¼ miles.
Swift lead on Saturday, March 8th. My parents and I arrived in Santa Anita and took our places in the clubhouse long before the Huge 'Cap started. Later in the day, the eight horses appeared out of the tunnel on the day of the day. When the Post came closer, the prestige and famed history of the Huge Cap was felt in the entire legendary Art -deco -grandstand by Santa Anita. It was just electrifying.
Shortly afterwards, the horses met their place in the starting gate and were in the area in which legends like Cougar II, confirmed, a spectacular offer, and John Henry were stationed before they wrote their names in the history of the massive 'cap. I temporarily moved to another place myself and got to the rail as close as possible. This was the massive cap and I wanted to be near the campaign.
Finally the bell rang and the gates opened. The runners began to settle in their early positions when they traveled through the route for the first time. Game On Dude soon took control of the pace when he tried to recover from a fifth place to San Antonio Stakes on February 8th.
When Mucho Macho took over the back borders and takes it on and will follow him. When I watched along the rail, my eyes followed the horses. This was my first massive cap and I wanted to see every second of it.
A moment later, Mucho Macho Man and take responsibility, the game took on dude. Trevor Denman announced the amount of more than 27,000 that this was the showdown we had been waiting for. But immediately after these words had fled the PA system, it was as if the game had heard his keyword. Suddenly he moved away from his rivals.
Mucho Macho You couldn't keep up. Will be responsible that has tried to master a challenge. But in this special episode of racing praised east-west rivality, the local horse would not have it overtaken by anyone.
When the game on dude and jockey ran Mike Smith into a finish line, the huge amount produced the most deafening roar I've ever heard. And it is a roar that I am proud to have been part of it. I can only call it epic.
Denman noticed about the abundance of cheers what turned out. He told all of us that the game on dude would write his way into the history books. And that's exactly what happened.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgclzlhofiy
After 1 ¼ miles around the main route, Game On Dude made a legend of Santa Anita by being the first horse to win his massive cap three times. He did it with style too. The last time for the race was 1: 58.17, which defeated the Stakes record that had long been defined by Affirmed. The game on dude didn't just win the massive cap. He owned it.
In the present, I remember that I was amazed at what I had just seen. I also remember that I talked about it with a Parimutuel employee after the night car, and he said it was a good day to be a racing fan.
When my parents and I later discussed Dudes at home, my father said that we might never see it again. That could be very good.
The Huge 'Cap started in 1935. Before the game on Dude, only John Henry (1981, 1982), Milwaukee Brew (2003, 2004) and Lava Man (2006, 2007) won them more than once. After these facts, my parents and I were part of a unique moment on March 8, 2014. Looking back more than a decade later, it was really an honor to be part of the racing history.
