Game Winner

Game Winner (foaled March 6, 2016) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the champion two-year-old colt of 2018. He was undefeated in four starts at age two, including wins in the Del Mar Futurity, American Pharoah Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He started his three-year-old campaign with second-place finishes in both the Rebel Stakes and Santa Anita Derby before finishing fifth in the 2019 Kentucky Derby. After a brief layoff, he returned in July to win the Los Alamitos Derby.

Game Winner
Game Winner at the 2018 Breeders' Cup
SireCandy Ride (ARG)
GrandsireRide the Rails
DamIndyan Giving
DamsireA.P. Indy
SexColt
FoaledMarch 6, 2016
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederSummer Wind Equine
OwnerGary and Mary West
TrainerBob Baffert
Record8: 5-2-0
Earnings$2,027,500[1]
Major wins
Del Mar Futurity (2018)
American Pharoah Stakes (2018)
Los Alamitos Derby (2019)

Breeders' Cup wins:
Breeders' Cup Juvenile (2018)
Last updated on July 14, 2019

Background

Game Winner is a bay colt who was bred in Kentucky by Summer Wind Equine, owned by Jane Lyon. His sire Candy Ride was undefeated in seven starts in Argentina and the United States, and has had growing success as a breeding stallion. Candy Ride's most successful offspring include Horse of the Year Gun Runner and champion Shared Belief.[2] Game Winner's dam Indyan Giving was an unraced daughter of leading sire A.P. Indy, out of champion older mare Fleet Indian.[3] The family traces back to influential broodmare La Troienne.[4] Indyan Giving died due to colic just three months after foaling Game Winner.[5]

Game Winner was purchased as a yearling for $110,000, a relative bargain considering his breeding, at the Keeneland 2017 September Sales by Gary and Mary West. He failed to attract much attention at the sale due to a problem with one of his feet, since corrected by shoeing.[5] He is trained by Bob Baffert.[1]

Racing career

2018: two-year-old season

Game Winner earned a "Rising Star" designation from the Thoroughbred Daily News for his performance in his first start on August 18, 2018 at Del Mar, a six-furlong maiden special weight race. Drawing the outside post position in a field of nine, he was carried wide around the turn while contesting the early pace. He assumed the lead around as they entered the stretch and continued to draw away, winning by ​5 3⁄4 lengths.[3]

Just 16 days later, Game Winner made his graded stakes debut in the Del Mar Futurity on September 3, run over a distance of seven furlongs. He was the 8-5 second choice in the field of six, in which the favorite, Roadster, was also trained by Baffert. The two stablemates rated five lengths behind the fast early pace set by Rowayton, then made their move on the final turn. Roadster could not match Game Winner's acceleration and finished third, while Game Winner pulled by Rowayton in the final furlong to win by ​1 1⁄2 lengths. Baffert commented, "I knew coming in that (Game Winner) was coming back a little quick, but he's a big, strong, heavy horse, and I knew he could handle it. I'd rather run him again than keep working him."[6]

Game Winner with groom Eduardo Luna and jockey Joel Rosario at the 2018 Breeders' Cup

Game Winner made his next start in the American Pharoah Stakes on September 29, going off as the 3-10 favorite in a field of five. He pressed the early pace set by Rowayton, then moved to the lead around the far turn and pulled away in the final furlong for a ​4 1⁄2 lengths. It was Baffert's eighth win in the race formerly known as the FrontRunner Stakes, and renamed for Baffert's Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. "[Game Winner] tipped us off this summer that he was going to be a good one. He is strong and he still looks a little heavy," said Baffert. "I don't plan to do too much with him before the Breeders' Cup. The good ones get there. I was very happy to win the first American Pharoah. Pretty cool and nice of Santa Anita to name a race after him. We had the same groom on this horse as American Pharoah [Eduardo Luna]."[7]

The win established Game Winner as an early favorite for the 2019 Kentucky Derby. Sportswriter Steve Haskins cited the colt's flexible running style (having won from both on and off the pace), superior breeding and Baffert's recent successes with Arrogate and Justify in addition to American Pharoah.[8]

Fourteen horses were entered in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on November 2, held in 2018 at Churchill Downs. However, the highly regarded Code of Honor was scratched after developing a fever, leaving thirteen to go to post with Game Winner as the even money favorite. Game Winner was bumped at the start, then settled in mid-pack while being carried wide around the first turn. He continued to race wide down the backstretch, then started his move on the final turn. Meanwhile, longshot Knicks Go pressed the early pace and moved to the lead at the head of the stretch. Game Winner gradually made up ground despite bumping with Knicks Go in midstretch, and pulled away late to win by ​2 1⁄4 lengths. "He broke fine, but it looked like they took my spot, and I had to go wide," said jockey Joel Rosario. "He seemed like he didn't mind that. He was comfortable. That's why we got him moving at that point, instead of getting inside and taking back. Turning for home, the more I rode him, the more he gave it to me."[9][10]

2019: three-year-old campaign

Game Winner was supposed to make his three-year-old debut in the San Felipe Stakes on March 9, 2019, but that race was cancelled due to the temporary closure of Santa Anita. Instead, he was shipped to Oaklawn Park for the Rebel Stakes a week later. Due to the large number of entries, the Rebel was split into two races, with Game Winner going off as the favorite in the second division. At the break, he bumped with Jersey Agenda to his inside and fell back to sixth place. Down the backstretch, he remained in sixth but was just over three lengths behind the pacesetter, Omaha Beach. Around the final turn, Game Winner commenced his drive and moved into second while racing four wide. Omaha Beach re-opened a two-length advantage in mid-stretch, but Game Winner then started closing again. Omaha Beach fought back and won by a nose despite being bumped by Game Winner near the wire.[11][12]

On April 6, shortly after Santa Anita was re-opened for racing, Game Winner entered the Santa Anita Derby. He went off as the favorite in a field of six, with the second choice being stablemate Roadster. Game Winner raced four-wide around the first turn and backstretch, the started his move on the far turn while racing three wide. He briefly moved to the lead in mid-stretch but could not match the closing kick of Roadster, who had saved ground along the rail throughout the race. Game Winner finished second, beaten by half a length.[13][14]

"At the eighth pole, I knew I was going to win — I just didn't know which one," said Baffert. "We've just got to keep them happy and healthy, enjoy the ride, the moment. It's hard to get to this moment. There's not a better feeling than there was today."[13]

In the 2019 Kentucky Derby, Game Winner went off as one of the favorites in a field of nineteen. However, he was bumped shortly after the start of the race and dropped far behind the early leaders. Racing wide around both turns, he made a strong run to finish sixth. He was subsequently promoted to fifth place after the disqualification of Maximum Security for interference with other horses.[15]

Game Winner did not enter the 2019 Preakness Stakes, and in late May, Baffert ruled him out of running in the 2019 Belmont Stakes.[16] It was later revealed the colt was suffering from a bad back, from which he was given some time off to recover. He returned to the racecourse on July 13 in the Los Alamitos Derby, winning by five lengths as the 1-20 favorite.[17]

Statistics
Date Age Distance Race Grade Track Odds Field Finish Winning Time Winning
(Losing)
Margin		 Jockey Ref
Aug 18, 2018 2 6 furlongs Maiden Special Weight Maiden Del Mar 1.90 9 1 1:11.21 ​5 3⁄4 lengths Joel Rosario [18]
Sep 3, 2018 2 7 furlongs Del Mar Futurity I Del Mar 1.60 6 1 1:23.18 ​1 1⁄2 lengths Mario Gutierrez [19]
Sep 29, 2018 2 ​1 1⁄16 miles American Pharoah Stakes I Santa Anita Park 0.30* 5 1 1:43.77 ​4 1⁄2 lengths Joel Rosario [20]
Nov 2, 2018 2 ​1 1⁄16 miles Breeders' Cup Juvenile I Churchill Downs 1.00* 13 1 1:43.67 ​2 1⁄4 lengths Joel Rosario [21]
Mar 16, 2019 3 ​1 1⁄16 miles Rebel Stakes II Oaklawn Park 0.50* 10 2 1:42.42 (nose) Joel Rosario [11]
Apr 6, 2019 3 ​1 1⁄8 miles Santa Anita Derby I Santa Anita 0.50* 6 2 1:51.28 (​1⁄2 length) Joel Rosario [14]
May 4, 2019 3 ​1 1⁄4 miles Kentucky Derby I Churchill Downs 6.80 19 5 2:03.93 (​3 1⁄4 lengths) Joel Rosario [15]
Jul 13, 2019 3 ​1 1⁄8 miles Los Alamitos Derby III Los Alamitos 0.05 5 1 1:48.30 5 lengths Joel Rosario [22]

An asterisk after the odds means Game Winner was the post-time favorite.

Pedigree
Pedigree of Game Winner, bay colt, 2016[4]
Sire
Candy Ride (ARG)
1999 bay		 Ride the Rails
1991 dark bay		 Cryptoclearance Fappiano
Naval Orange
Herbalesian Herbager
Alanesian
Candy Girl (ARG)
1990 chestnut		 Candy Stripes Blushing Groom (FR)
Bubble Company (FR)
City Girl Farnesio (ARG)
Cithara
Dam
Indyan Giving
2009 dark bay		 A.P. Indy
1989 dark bay		 Seattle Slew Bold Reasoning
My Charmer
Weekend Surprise Secretariat
Lassie Dear
Fleet Indian
2001 dark bay		 Indian Charlie In Excess (IRE)
Soviet Sojourn
Hustleeta Afleet
Bravo Native (family: 1-x)
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References
  1. "Equibase Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  2. Mitchell, Eric. "The Rise of Candy Ride". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  3. "Baffert Unleashes Another Rising Star at Del Mar". www.thoroughbreddailynews.com. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  4. "Pedigree of Game Winner". www.equineline. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  5. "Tales from the Crib: Game Winner". www.kentuckyderby.com. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  6. "Baffert Scores 14th Del Mar Futurity With Game Winner". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  7. "Candy Ride's Game Winner Stays Unbeaten in American Pharoah". www.thoroughbreddailynews.com. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  8. Haskins, Steve. "Is the Derby Winner in This Year's Juvenile?". cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  9. Wincze Hughes, Alicia. "Game Winner Prevails in Breeders' Cup Juvenile". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  10. "Game Winner takes charge late to win Breeders Cup Juvenile". USA TODAY. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  11. "Chart for the Rebel Stakes". Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  12. Privman, Jay. "Omaha Beach outruns Game Winner in Rebel division 2". www.drf.com. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  13. Daugherty, Meredith. "Roadster Rallies to Santa Anita Derby Score". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  14. "Chart for the Santa Anita Derby". Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  15. "Chart of the 2019 Kentucky Derby". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  16. Wisener, Bob (May 26, 2019). "Baffert: Game Winner out of Belmont". hotsr.com. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  17. "Game Winner Tunes Up for Travers with Los Al Derby Win". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  18. "Chart for Del Mar, Aug 18, 2018, Race 9". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  19. "Chart for the Del Mar Futurity". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  20. "Chart for the American Pharoah Stakes". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  21. "Chart for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile". Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  22. "Chart of the Los Alamitos Derby". equibase.com. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
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