Game Winner gets an education in Tuesday workout

ARCADIA, Calif. - For a jockey who has never ridden the champion Game Winner in a race, Joe Talamo has developed a high level of expertise regarding the colt.

Talamo has frequently worked Game Winner, including a half-mile workout in 48.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Tuesday. The workout moved Game Winner closer to his second start of 2019 in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6, a key prep for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4.

Joel Rosario will ride Game Winner in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby.

Tuesday’s workout was a lesson for Game Winner, who is trained by Bob Baffert for Gary and Mary West. Game Winner worked in company with stablemate Dr. Dorr and closed along the rail. Talamo said the workout was designed to give Game Winner experience of racing on the inside.

“You won’t draw perfectly every time,” Talamo said.

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Talamo times horses with his wristwatch and had a slightly faster time of 48.60 seconds for Game Winner.

“He just breezed right along,” Talamo said. “He’s cool to work. He does what you ask him to do.”

Game Winner is the expected favorite in the Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles. Other expected runners are Extra Hope, Instagrand, Nolo Contesto, Roadster, and Synthesis in what will likely be a small field.

Game Winner was the champion 2-year-old male of 2018. He was beaten for the first time in his career in his fifth start and first race this year, a nose loss to Omaha Beach in the second division of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 16.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, Roadster worked six furlongs in 1:14. Trained by Baffert, Roadster was third behind Game Winner in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last September and did not race again until March 1, when he won an optional claimer by 2 1/2 lengths over Nolo Contesto at Santa Anita.

Roadster underwent an operation to correct a breathing problem after his loss in the Del Mar Futurity.

At the start of training on Tuesday, Talamo worked McKinzie six furlongs in 1:12.80 for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on April 6. Talamo is the regular work rider of McKinzie, who will be ridden by Mike Smith.

Talamo timed McKinzie galloping out seven furlongs in 1:25

“He was gliding,” Talamo said.

Talamo will not ride at Santa Anita this weekend. He has the mount on Caribou Club in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai on Saturday.