Dude wins the last Hollywood Gold Cup Game On Dude won the final running of the Grade One Hollywood Gold Cup on Saturday night. Bob Baffert's prolific winner was allowed an uncontested lead in the 10 furlong contest and was never seriously challenged as he scored by a length from Kettle Corn. The six year old was racing from a career high mark but Mike Smith never had to resort to his whip as the six year old son of Awesome Again completed back-to-back successes in the historic event. The Hollywood Park track is being closed at the end of the year to make way for a mixed-use development including retail stores and a cinema, causing concerns for the future of horseracing in California. The inaugural running of the Hollywood Gold Cup took place 75 years ago and was won by the legendary Seabiscuit; the roll of honour includes other American greats such as 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed and Cigar. History will show that Baffert won the last three renewals of the race with First Dude edging out Game On Dude by a nose in 2011 and the trainer revealed that everything had gone according to plan this time around. "He had control of the pace and everything went like we drew it up in our mind. He just finds more gears as he goes along," he told www.bloodhorse.com. American Hall of Fame Jockey, Smith added: "My trip was brilliant. It went really well. I'm very happy with the outcome. He did what he had to do and seemed to come back really well. I was really confident. I hand rode him. He is a fighter and if you're going to try to beat him, you've got to flat run by him."
