By Christie DeBernardis
Members of the TDN staff reveal what TDN Rising Star they're most excited to see race in 2019.
How can you not be excited about an undefeated juvenile colt, who is a three-time Grade I-winner, is soon-to-be a champion and is trained by Bob Baffert? Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) has done absolutely everything right and I'm not just referring to the fact he is a perfect four-for-four. The bay has been the consummate professional in each of his racetrack appearances, winning impressively and with ease every time. He has also displayed versatility and the ability to overcome adversity, two important qualities for both a good racehorse and a GI Kentucky Derby hopeful.
Drawn in post nine in his six-panel debut at Del Mar Aug. 18, the $110,000 KEESEP buy forced the issue four-wide and blew them away in the lane to graduate by 5 3/4 lengths (video). Given another outside post in the GI Del Mar Futurity Sept. 3, Game Winner put away a strong field that included his more-fancied stablemate Roadster (Quality Road) with ease (video). Navigating two turns for the first time in the Sept. 29 GI American Pharoah S., he handled it with aplomb, shrugging off a talented runner in the stretch to win as he pleased (video). Facing his toughest test yet in the Nov. 2 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, held beneath the same Twin Spires the colt hopes to see on the First Saturday in May, Game Winner overcame another outside post, wide trip and bumping in late stretch to forge clear for a determined score (video).
In each of his starts, Game Winner performed like a horse that would only get better with distance. He is bred to run all day being a son of Candy Ride out of an A.P. Indy mare, who is a daughter of MGISW Fleet Indian (Indian Charlie). The bay has the right connections for the job with owners Gary and Mary West and two-time Triple Crown-winner Baffert. Bred by Summer Wind Farm, the colt is one of three horses born at Jane Lyon's facility to win at the highest level for Baffert this year with the other two being fellow 'TDN Rising Stars' McKinzie (Street Sense) and Chasing Yesterday (Tapit).
–Christie DeBernardis, Associate Editor
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