Fort Larned wins Classic in upset

ARCADIA, CALIF. — Game On Dude never did get his game on in Saturday’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Fort Larned, who went off at 9-1, won the biggest race of his career in the featured event of a two-day, 15-raceweekend.

The favored Game On Dude, having won five of five previous races at Santa Anita, broke poorly and finished seventh, leading his trainer Bob Baffert to say, “It was a tough day for me. But I’ve had tougher. It really was a tough week, but what are you going to do?”

Last year, Game On Dude was overtaken in the stretch by Drosselmeyer in this race last year at ChurchillDowns. WiseDan, a candidate for Horse of the Year, won the $2 million Mile. The 5-year-old chestnut gelding faced a stiff test from a host of European challengers as well as 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom. Wise Dan held off the fast-finishing Animal Kingdom in a track record, 1 minute, 31.78 seconds.

Little Mike, an upset at 17-1, won the $3-million Turf in 2:22.84, a Breeders’ Cup record, which equaled the track record.

“I’m still numb,” said media celebrity Jim Rome, a co-owner, after Mizdirection’s win in the $1 million Turf Sprint. Unbridled’s Note was second and Reneesgotzip third.

Mizdirection, coming off a 51⁄ month racing layoff, was 11th at the halfway mark and fifth at the top of the stretch.

Trinniberg, guided by jockeyWillieMartinez, at13-1, won the $1.5 million Sprint, beatingTheLumberGuy by three-quarters of a length and paid $29.40. Trinniberg had finished 17th out of 20 horses in theKentucky Derby inMay.

Other winners included Tapizar in the $1 million Dirt Mile, George Vancouver in the $1 million Juvenile Turf and Groupie Doll in the $1 million Filly& Mare Sprint.