Game Winner gets back to work

ARCADIA, Calif. – Shortly before 8 a.m. at Santa Anita on Wednesday, Game Winner’s 3-year-old campaign began in earnest.

The undefeated winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2, Game Winner worked three furlongs in 35.20 seconds under jockey Drayden Van Dyke. In his first work since the BC Juvenile, Game Winner had the fastest of 14 at the distance on Wednesday.

“He looks like he could run next week,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

That’s not going to happen. Baffert did not state a specific race goal for Game Winner, although a two-race campaign leading to the Triple Crown is highly likely. Baffert said he would consider running him in stakes at Oaklawn Park or Santa Anita.

“The plan is to have him ready for the Kentucky Derby,” Baffert said.

The Kentucky Derby is May 4.

Wednesday, Game Winner worked alone and entered the stretch running off the rail. Baffert timed Game Winner galloping out a half-mile in 47.20 seconds.

Owned by Gary and Mary West, Game Winner has won four races, including three Grade 1 races. Game Winner won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs on Sept. 3 and the Grade 1 American Pharoah at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 29.

In the BC Juvenile, Game Winner, a son of Candy Ride, closed from seventh in a field of 13 to win by 2 1/4 lengths over Knicks Go. Baffert said Game Winner has thrived in recent weeks.

“Game Winner has gotten bigger and stronger,” Baffert said. “He’s a pretty serious horse. He’s tough. He doesn’t need the lead and he’s got the speed to put him anywhere. He’s not one-dimensional.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Improbable, the undefeated winner of the Grade 1 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity on Dec. 8, worked three furlongs in 38 seconds. Improbable has won three races, including the Street Sense Stakes at a mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2.