August 18, 2018 - Del Mar, Race 9, Msw, USD $60,000, 6F
1st Dam: Indyan Giving
2st Dam: Fleet Indian
2st Dam: Hustleeta
Owner: Gary & Mary West
Breeder: Summer Wind Equine (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Game Winner (c, 2, Candy Ride {Arg}-Indyan Giving, by A.P. Indy), a $110,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, put on a show on the GI TVG Pacific Classic undercard Saturday evening at Del Mar, earning ‘TDN Rising Star’ status for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
The bay, drawn widest of all in post nine, forced the early issue while a four-wide fourth through an opening quarter in :22.41. He began to make his move on the far turn, took over with ease as they kicked for home and leveled off impressively in the stretch to graduate by an eye-catching 5 3/4 lengths and continued to gallop out with extremely good energy into the clubhouse turn. Favored Dueling (Violence), a strong second on debut here July 21, was second.
Game Winner was produced by Indyan Giving, an unraced daughter of champion and two-time Grade I winner Fleet Indian (Indian Charlie). Indyan Giving RNA’d for $385,000 as a KEESEP yearling and Game Winner is her most recent produce. Game Winner’s lightly raced 4-year-old half-brother Flagstaff (Speightstown), a $475,000 FTSAUG graduate, was third in an optional claimer for Lane’s End Racing and Hronis Racing at Del Mar earlier this month.
Baffert recently enjoyed success with another ‘Rising Star’ by the aforementioned Lane’s End stallion, unbeaten 2016 GI Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity winner Mastery.
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