Gaming gets back to work with next race still undecided

Gaming, a finalist for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding 2-year-olds of 2024 but only eighth of nine in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 25, had his first workout in more than a month at Santa Anita on Friday.

Gaming worked five furlongs in a quick 59.40 seconds. “He looked good,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

Gaming, a colt by Game Winner, races for the partnership of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. Last September, Gaming won his stakes debut in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs and was later second to stablemate Citizen Bull in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar in November.

Gaming’s last two starts have not been as encouraging, including a well-beaten third as the 1-2 favorite in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in December.

Baffert said on Friday that he has no specific race plans for Gaming.

“I’m working it out,” Baffert said. “I want to see how he worked first. Like all my 3-year-olds, they’ll be nominated everywhere.”

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