Game Winner to stretch out after debut win

DEL MAR, Calif. – Game Winner, a Candy Ride colt who won a six-furlong maiden race for 2-year-olds in his debut Saturday at Del Mar, will be aimed for races at longer distances and stakes, according to his trainer, Bob Baffert.

“He’s a nice horse,” Baffert said. “We knew he’d run well, but we didn’t think he’d show that much speed. He came out of it well. He wants to go further. We’ll find something for him. He’ll be nominated everywhere.”

The Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, going seven furlongs Sept. 3, would require Game Winner to come back in just 16 days. More likely options for Game Winner include the Grade 1 American Pharoah – formerly the FrontRunner – going 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 29 at Santa Anita, or perhaps the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 15, also at 1 1/16 miles.

Both the American Pharoah and Iroquois offer fees-paid berths to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile through the Win and You’re In program.

This year’s Breeders’ Cup is at Churchill Downs, with the Juvenile to be run Nov. 2.

Game Winner is owned by Gary and Mary West.

◗ Collected, last year’s Pacific Classic winner, worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 on Tuesday morning under Drayden Van Dyke as he progresses toward a return to action.

◗ Jockey Heriberto Figueroa has been suspended by Del Mar’s stewards for three days, beginning Sunday, for careless riding aboard Satrapa in the fifth race Saturday. Satrapa finished second and appeared to tighten things up on the tiring and beaten fourth-place finisher, Jefferson Davis, near the wire. There was no inquiry or disqualification.