Comma to the Top Stakes goes to Top of the Game

Top of the Game returned from a layoff of more than eight months to win his third consecutive race, and stakes debut, in Saturday’s $73,690 Comma to the Top Stakes at Santa Anita.

The win left regular rider Kent Desormeaux thinking highly of the 4-year-old gelding’s future.

“He’s stamping himself as a handicap horse,” Desormeaux said. “He’s coming into his own at a good time.”

Desormeaux’s ride was a key aspect of Top of the Game’s win. Desormeaux urged Top of the Game out of the gate to gain a stalking position on the inside on the backstretch. Remaining on the rail, Top of the Game surged to the front with more than a quarter-mile remaining.

Desormeaux said Top of the Game was eager to move forward on the turn.

“I said, ‘Go ahead and stretch your legs,’” Desormeaux said.

Top of the Game led by 2 1/2 lengths with a quarter-mile remaining and seven lengths with a furlong to go. Top of the Game ($15.20) won by 4 1/4 lengths over Hoppertunity, the 6-year-old starting for the first time since a sixth-place finish in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates last March.

Irish Freedom, the 6-5 favorite, finished third, followed by Curlin Rules, The Lieutenant, El Huerfano,and Avanti Bello.

Irish Freedom was eighth in the Santa Anita Derby last April and won an optional claimer at Del Mar on Aug. 13 in his only subsequent start. Bob Baffert trains Hoppertunity and Irish Freedom.

Top of the Game, who is by Desert Party, has won 4 of 12 starts and earned $167,420.