Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, 1 1/16 miles, Churchill Downs, Nov. 2, 2018 (20 Derby qualifying points for a win, 8 for second, 4 for third, 2 for fourth – CQ; the chart on the RTTD page has incorrect point values) Winner: Game Winner, by Candy Ride Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Joel Rosario Owner: Gary and Mary West Beyer Speed Figure: 93 GAME WINNER completed his 2-year-old campaign by nailing down the divisional Eclipse Award, remaining unbeaten, and establishing himself as the winter book favorite for the Kentucky Derby by overcoming a wide trip to win this race, which is run over the same track where the Derby will be held in six months. The way this race unfolded, he had every right to chuck it, yet he tenaciously wore down a stubborn KNICKS GO to prevail. He’s a high-class colt. Game Winner was widest of all, in about the four path, around the first turn while midpack, had to stay outside down the backstretch, and wound up four paths wide entering the far turn. He took aim at Knicks Go in upper stretch, took a solid bump when Knicks Go drifted out near the furlong grounds, but relentlessly kept to his task and won going away. Knicks Go, who was second, was sent away from the gate and set up shop just outside early leader COMPLEXITY into the first turn, stayed in that spot down the backstretch and into the far turn, then took over when Complexity chucked it nearing the quarter pole. He drifted out under left-handed pressure in upper stretch and ended up bumping Game Winner, lost the lead in deep stretch, swapped over to his left lead a few jumps from the wire – likely from exhaustion – but held the place. He was the only horse up close early who was around at the end. Perhaps his Breeders’ Futurity win was better than it first appeared. SIGNALMAN, who was third, veered out slightly leaving the gate from his outside stall, then was gathered in and cleverly angled inside and behind horses to save ground in the run to the first turn. By the time the horses turned into the backstretch, he was on the rail, a nifty piece of race riding by Brian Hernandez Jr. He continued to save ground down the backstretch and into the far turn, had to wait for a split second three furlongs out but got through without much fuss, split horses near the five-sixteenths, ducked back to the rail, and only had to come around the tiring Complexity in the stretch while steadily making progress. Winning rides are usually the ones praised, but it would be hard to top this ride by Hernandez as one of the best of the entire Breeders’ Cup weekend. The top three finished well in front of everyone else. MR. MONEY, who was fourth, stumbled slightly leaving the gate but recovered and raced between horses while midpack into the first turn, got a bit keen turning up the backside and advanced while pretty much even with Game Winner, was right behind Complexity and Knicks Go midway on the far turn, couldn’t go with Game Winner a quarter-mile out, and went evenly the rest of the way. GUNMETAL GRAY, who finished fifth, lacked speed and was toward the back of the pack while three paths wide into the first turn, was pretty much even with Signalman with a half-mile to go, couldn’t keep up and only had one horse beat with three furlongs to go, but then picked it up anew in the stretch and made some progress. The way he ran in spots, he might need blinkers. DUELING, who was sixth, saved ground from his rail draw while midpack around the first turn, raced erratically into the backstretch as if the spray of dirt was bothering him, was angled off the rail down the backstretch and followed Game Winner with half-mile to go, couldn’t quicken when asked, was very late to change leads in the stretch, and simply wasn’t good enough. MIND CONTROL, who was seventh, bobbled leaving the gate, was three paths wide into the first turn while just inside Game Winner, lost ground into the backstretch, raced wide and without seeming interest entering the far turn, was last with three furlongs to go, picked off some tired rivals late but was never a factor. TOPPER T, who was eighth, took up a stalking position three paths wide while just off the early leaders into the first turn, went into the far turn three paths wide while just inside of and just in front of Game Winner, could not keep up nearing the quarter pole and faded. TIGHT TEN, who finished ninth, broke sharply but couldn’t keep up in the opening furlong and took an awkward step nearing the first turn, a combination of him being squeezed out and hitting the rail. He saved ground around the first turn and into the backstretch, had Signalman roar past him with three furlongs to go, swung into the three path entering the lane, but had little to offer. Complexity, who was 10th, used his sharp early speed to take the lead, set the pace into the far turn, had no response when Knicks Go challenged him midway on the turn, and faded. He acted like he simply couldn’t stay the trip, which was a fear of his connections going into the race. DERBY DATE, who was 11th, lacked speed and raced between rivals toward the back of the pack into the first turn, dropped back to last into the backstretch, made some progress on the far turn while saving ground, but flattened out in the final furlong. WELL DEFINED, who was 12th, showed good speed while just inside Complexity into the first turn, raced alongside Knicks Go while following Complexity down the backstretch, began to weaken three furlongs out and was ridden sympathetically the rest of the way. STANDARD DEVIATION, who finished last of 13, checked slightly leaving the gate, saved ground while toward the rear of the field into the first turn, was urged along a half-mile out, but had no response in a dull effort.