November 17, 2018 - Del Mar, Race 1, Msw, USD $53,000, 7F
1st Dam: Game Face
2st Dam: Galleon of Gold
2st Dam: Harbour Club
Owner: Godolphin LLC
Breeder: Godolphin LLC (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Godolphin homebred Coliseum (c, 2, Tapit—Game Face, by Menifee) entered the starting gate with a lofty reputation and certainly lived up to the hype on debut at Del Mar Saturday, becoming another no-brainer ‘TDN Rising Star’ for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
Breaking out a bit from his inside draw, the striking gray quickly established command through a :22.88 opening quarter. The 1-2 favorite began to let it out a notch beneath Joe Talamo entering the far turn, kicked for home in complete command and was never asked for serious run while striding away to a jaw-dropping win. It was 6 3/4 lengths back to stablemate Figure Eight (Power Broker) in second.
Game Face, a $280,000 OBSMAR juvenile purchase by Zabeel Racing International, captured the 2009 GI Princess Rooney H. Game Face had a filly by First Defence in 2017. She was most recently bred to Candy Ride (Arg).
The off-shore bookmaker Bovada had Coliseum listed at 20-1 in its latest winterbook wagering for the Kentucky Derby prior to his debut win as reported in Bill Finley’s Week in Review column earlier this week.
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