Game On Dude won the $242,500 Native Diver Stakes by 1-1/4 lengths Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park, rebounding from a poor performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic last month.
Ridden for the first time by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Game On Dude ran 1-1/8 miles on Cushion Track in 1 minute, 52.27 seconds and paid $2.60 to win as the 3-10 favorite. He became the shortest priced winner in the race's history, paying less than the $2.80 of Twilight Agenda in 1991.
Nonios was second, and defending champion Kettle Corn was another 4-1/4 lengths back in third.
Game On Dude carried high weight of 124 pounds, five more than Nonios.
Richard's Kid, second to Game On Dude in the Hollywood Gold Cup on July 7, finished fourth, beaten 15-1/2 lengths as the 4-1 second choice.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Game On Dude has 10 wins in 22 career starts and earnings of $3,132,158 for an ownership group that includes Major League Baseball executive Joe Torre. Game On Dude finished seventh as the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.
In the $70,440 Skillful Joy Stakes, Reneesgotzip defeated Nechez Dawn by a neck under Garrett Gomez.
Reneesgotzip ran six furlongs on Cushion Track in 1:13.05 and paid $2.60 as the 3-10 favorite. The race was moved off the turf because of the threat of rain.
Nechez Dawn was second, and Curvy Cat was another 2-1/2 lengths back in third.
Reneesgotzip has five wins in nine career starts and earnings of $454,460. She is undefeated in four races on synthetic surfaces, including three at Betfair Hollywood Park.
