Bob Baffert’s Game Winner, who upset his highly regarded stablemate Roadster in winning the Grade I Del Mar Futurity Sept. 3, heads a field of five juveniles going 1 1/16 miles in Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita.
Originally run as the Norfolk and most recently contested as the FrontRunner Stakes, the American Pharoah, one of four Grade I, Breeder’s Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Races, is named for Baffert’s brilliant 2015 Triple Crown winner, who annexed the FrontRunner in September of 2014.
GAME WINNER
Owner: Gary & Mary West
Trainer: Bob Baffert
A 5 ¾ length first out maiden winner going six furlongs on Aug. 18, this Kentucky-bred colt by Candy Ride rallied from off the pace to take the seven furlong Del Mar Futurity by 1 ½ lengths over Jerry Hollendorfer’s Rowayton. Baffert’s Roadster, who was heavily favored, finished third, two lengths behind his stablemate. Dispatched at 8-5, Game Winner was ridden for the first time by Mario Gutierrez in the Futurity, however he’ll be handled for the first time on Saturday by eastern-based Joel Rosario. Like all but one of his rivals, Game Winner will be trying two turns for the first time in what will be his third career start.
ROWAYTON
Owner: OXO Equine, LLC
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
An impressive 1 ¾ length first out maiden winner going five furlongs on July 21, this Into Mischief colt showed brilliant speed going seven furlongs in the Grade I Del Mar Futurity, but was run down in the final sixteenth of a mile by Game Winner at odds of 7-1. Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke in his first two starts, Rowayton will be ridden for the first time by eastern-based Florent Geroux on Saturday. Like Game Winner, Rowayton will also be making his third career start.
GUNMETAL GRAY
Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds and Hollendorfer, LLC
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Although he was beaten some 10 ¼ lengths by Roadster in his six furlong debut July 29, this gray or roan colt by Exchange Rate relished a flat mile on Aug. 22 at Del Mar, winning off by 6 ¾ lengths at odds of 5-1. Flavien Prat will climb aboard for the first time, as Gunmetal Gray had been ridden in both of his previous starts by Drayden Van Dyke.
PLEASE NOTE – MUCH BETTER IS NOT ENTERED IN THE AMERICAN PHAROAH STAKES. THIS WAS A CLERICAL ERROR. AN OLDER VERSION OF ADVANCE WAS USED INSTEAD OF FINAL DRAFT.
MUCH BETTER
Owner: Three Chimneys Farm
Trainer: Bob Baffert
THE GRADE I AMERICAN PHAROAH WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 6 of 12 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT
- Rowayton—Florent Geroux – 122
- Gunmetal Gray—Flavien Prat—122
- Jefe—Kent Desormeaux—122
- Game Winner—Joel Rosario – 122
- Sigalert—Tyler Baze—122
Thank you for your continued support of Santa Anita and IdaBet.com!
