Game On Dude overcame a couple of tussles with Nonios to win the $242,500 Native Diver S. Saturday at Hollywood Park, giving Bob Baffert a measure of redemption after the 5-year-old's rare unplaced effort in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) last month.

Ridden for the first time by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Game On Dude was outbroke by Nonios, but Smith moved inside of his foe to gain the advantage on the clubhouse turn, then got the dark bay to relax through 49.81 and 1:14.97 fractions through six furlongs.

Game On Dude appeared ready to take charge approaching the quarter pole, but Nonios was resurgent, drawing along side the public choice in the final eighth of a mile, but Game On Dude edged away in the closing yards to prevail by 1 ¼ lengths, completing the 1 1/8 miles over a very tiring and slow Cushion Track in 1:52.27.

Owned by a partnership that includes Joe Torre’s Diamond Pride LLC, Lanni Family Trust, Ernie Moody’s Mercedes Stable LLC and Bernie Schiappa, Game On Dude boosted his bankroll to $3,132,158 in 22 starts. The Kentucky bred won the Grade 2 Californian S. and the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup during the Spring/Summer meet.

"I thought Nonios would be the horse to beat in here," said Baffert after his second Native Diver win, the first coming with General Challenge in 1999. “I figured (jockey Martin) Pedroza would try to get aggressive with him.

"I saw Pedroza go over there and I thought he was to get in `Dude’s psyche a little bit, maybe try to cut him off or get him off his heels.
"When I saw Nonios making that move and coming back on, I said, ‘Whoa,’ because this track is pretty demanding. But then (Game On Dude) cut back in and he wasn’t really tired when he got back. It’s just a shame that he ran great races all year long and had a bad trip in the Breeders’ Cup. It’s a new day today."

"He had a little hiccup coming out of the gate," said Smith. "He was squatting a little. I have a couple of ideas maybe we’ll try (next time). The idea was just to stay out of his way.

"Martin secured the lead and if he wanted it going at a decent pace, I was going to let him have it. But he really didn’t go on and I was determined to stick him in there.

"I know this horse is brave, so I just put him where I thought I had to. He handled the track well. The key for me was to win and if I could win without gutting him, it would be really good.

"I wanted to see if he’d fight, he acted like he would in the mornings and he certainly did in the afternoon. He won pretty much within himself."