Game Winner puts in an easy five-furlong move

ARCADIA, Calif. – Game Winner, the undefeated champion 2-year-old male of 2018, worked five furlongs in 1:03.40 on Wednesday at Santa Anita for a scheduled 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 9.

Trainer Bob Baffert timed Game Winner in a slightly faster 1:03.

“He went easy,” Baffert said. “He went off a little slow. He’s pretty ready. He didn’t lose much condition.”

Game Winner, who has not started since winning his third Grade 1 stakes in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs, has had three workouts since he resumed serious training earlier this winter.

“We’ve got plenty of time,” Baffert said.

The $500,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles will have its richest running this year. The race was worth $400,000 from 2016-18. Baffert has won the race a record six times, most recently with Mastery in 2017. Baffert’s McKinzie finished first in 2018, but was disqualified and placed second for interfering with Bolt d’Oro in the stretch.

Game Winner races for Gary and Mary West and has earned $1,496,000.

Also Wednesday, the Baffert-trained Coliseum worked six furlongs in 1:12.20 from the gate for the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Feb. 10. Coliseum won a maiden special weight race at seven furlongs by 6 3/4 lengths on Nov. 17 at Del Mar, but was sixth as the 3-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile here Jan. 5 in his only subsequent start.

Saturday, Baffert plans to start Mucho Gusto in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, yet another prep for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles on April 6. Mucho Gusto was second to stablemate Improbable in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Derby on Dec. 8.

Other candidates for the $150,000 Lewis Stakes are Easy Shot, Gunmetal Gray, Kid Cantina, and Nolo Contesto.