Two Dudes

Yesterday was The Hollywood Goldcup. It's a grade 1, 500,000 dollar purse event. That being said, you now know how big it is.
   Before the race, me and Kaitlyn chose which horse(s) we wanted to win. Kate chose the heavy 1-2 favorite, Twirling Candy. She said she had a "feeling about Twirling Candy". I, however, chose the bay son of Stephen Got Even. First Dude was a contender in the Kentucky Derby a couple years ago, so he wasn't completely unknown. Not at all. He's got a good pedigree, and one of the best trainers. Bob Baffert actually had two of his horses running in the Hollywood Goldcup. First Dude and Game on Dude. No, they're not related. I prefer Game on Dude's pedigree over First Dude's, though. Awesome Again, Devil His Due, Deputy Minister; those are the few awesome runners in Game on Dude's pedigree.
   I didn't watch the race, but I read about it, and was totally amazed.
   At the wire, both Bob Baffert horses were dead heating it to the finish line. First Dude, Game on Dude: who would win?

   It was actually a photo finish. Bob Baffert didn't know which of his horses won until the photo was looked at. He was like, "I don't know who won, but I know I did."
   It's that awesome? And nerve-racking. To know you won, but not by which horse.
   My horse won by a nose over Game on Dude. Twirling Candy took a decent third place. There was a filly in the eight horse field, too. She's an Argentina-bred filly, ridden by Joe Talamo, and closely related to A.P. Indy. I was really hoping she would get a good place. Unfortunately she got second to last, in front of Soul Candy.
   That's horseracing for ya.
   I particularly really loved this race; that's why I'm blogging about it. :)

Photos from the race:

From left: First Dude, Game on Dude, and Twirling Candy