Fifth in Kentucky, Game Winner is first in Los Al Derby
Baffert picks up his ninth win in the race as his Breeders’ Cup champion rebounds.
Game Winner showed he is back in good form by winning the Grade 3 $150,000 Los Alamitos Derby on Saturday afternoon by five lengths.
It was the first race for the 2-year-old Eclipse Award winner since he was awarded fifth place in the Kentucky Derby after the disqualification of Maximum Security.
It was the ninth time trainer Bob Baffert has won the race and third in a row.
“I think this was a perfect race for him,” Baffert said of Game Winner. “I put the blinkers back on him because I wanted him to get a little bit more focused leaving the gate and into the race a little bit more. He was falling back a little too far.
“He had worked exceptionally well coming into this. I think that break really helped him. I love the way he finished the last eighth of a mile.”
There wasn’t much competition with only four starters in the 11⁄8-mile race.
Game Winner paid $2.10 to win. There was no place or show wagering. Parsimony was second followed by Kingly and Feeling Strong. Baffert also trains Kingly.
Game Winner probably will be headed to the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 24. It’s the biggest race remaining in the year for 3-year-olds before the Breeders’ Cup. It’s there he will likely face Maximum Security, who is scheduled to run next Saturday in the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Both horses are owned by Gary and Mary West, who live near San Diego.
“It’s good to have him back” Gary West said of Game Winner. “He got knocked out and lost a little bit of weight after the Kentucky Derby. He had a horrible start and ran really hard that day, so [Baffert] just said he needed to freshen up and he seems to be back to his old self. We’re looking towards the Travers for his next start and I think this was a good prep race for him.”
Baffert was clearly high on Game Winner’s return after a 10-week layoff. He even brought in regular rider Joel Rosario to ride the one race Saturday. Rosario gave up a full card of racing at Saratoga to come west.
“He wanted to ride him real bad,” Baffert said earlier about Rosario coming to Los Alamitos. “Especially because he’s had some rough trips.”
Game Winner won all four of his races last year, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Saturday was his first win in four starts this year. He finished second in the Rebel Stakes to Omaha Beach, the Kentucky Derby favorite until scratching from the race; and second to stablemate Roadster in the Santa Anita Handicap, before running in the Kentucky Derby.