In 2018, Bob Baffert won his 14th Del Mar Futurity (G1) with Game Winner, who went on to reign as the divisional champion. On Sunday, Baffert racked up win number 18 in Del Mar’s marquee race for two-year-olds with an unbeaten colt from Game Winner’s first crop, Gaming.
Like his sire, Gaming was coming off an impressive debut victory over the track, but found himself cast in the role of “another Baffert” in the Del Mar Futurity. Gaming was only the 3.90-1 third choice in the wagering behind stablemates Citizen Bull, the surprising 1.30-1 favorite, and Getaway Car, the morning-line favorite who drifted up to 1.90-1 by post time.
When leading rider Juan Hernandez stuck with Getaway Car, Flavien Prat picked up the mount on Gaming. Prat was fresh off a record-setting stakes haul at Saratoga, crowned by Chancer McPatrick in the Hopeful (G1). Gaming gave him the corresponding feature on the West Coast.
Getaway Car, the hitherto undefeated winner of the Best Pal (G3), flashed his typical speed on the rail. But longshot Brother Tony harried him through an opening quarter in :21.85, and Getaway Car put the pedal to the metal to spurt away by the half in :44.35.
Meanwhile, Gaming was deploying his energy more realistically. Patiently settled in fifth early, the Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman runner traveled well as he advanced into second on the far turn. Getaway Car was running out of gas, unable to maintain his lead.
Gaming deftly split foes swinging for home and took command. McKinzie Street and Citizen Bull were also trying to lift wider out, but Gaming was too strong. The winner drove 1 3/4 lengths clear in a final time of 1:23.02 for seven furlongs.
McKinzie Street soldiered on for second, becoming another Grade 1 performer for freshman sire McKinzie. Himself a past Baffert pupil, McKinzie is responsible for Chancer McPatrick.
Citizen Bull lost ground in the final furlong in third, another four lengths behind McKinzie Street. Getaway Car faded to fourth, followed by R Heisman, Rank, and the tailed-off Brother Tony.
Gaming has earned $225,000 from his 2-for-2 record. In his Aug. 11 maiden score on the Best Pal undercard, the dark bay went wire-to-wire and displayed signs of greenness. He adopted a more polished manner in the Del Mar Futurity.
“He relaxed well,” Prat said. “He was a bit on his toes before the race, so I kept him quiet. Very straightforward, and leveled out nice.
“Bob just told me not to rush him, and I thought I was in a good spot on my way around the corner. When he went off to his left lead, I jumped on the bridle right away. After that, I felt pretty much in control the whole way.”
“Prat, he’s smart,” assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said. “He let the other ones go. He let him drop back a little bit, picked a spot up the rail and to the outside, and he was on his way. No game plan.”
If Gaming follows the usual path, the Oct. 5 American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita could serve as his two-turn test ahead of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) back at Del Mar. Sire Game Winner swept those races as well to clinch the Eclipse Award as champion two-year-old male.
Bred by Mt. Brilliant Farm and Ranch in Kentucky, Gaming was a pinhook success for Pick View, who transformed the $40,000 Keeneland September yearling into a $250,000 OBS March juvenile.
Gaming is out of the Johannesburg mare So Stylish, herself a half-sister to European champion juvenile One Cool Cat. Gaming’s third dam, Savannah Dancer, scored her signature win in the 1985 Del Mar Oaks (G2).
Before Getaway Car retreated in the Del Mar Futurity, his Best Pal form arguably took something of a knock in the $104,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3).
Best Pal runner-up Mischief River opted to try his luck stretching out over a mile on turf. Leading through splits of :22.18, :46.61, and 1:12.21, he battled deep into the stretch before succumbing grudgingly in fourth.
The Jeff Mullins-trained Artislas, a good-looking debut winner sprinting five grassy furlongs here Aug. 2, summoned the same late kick to score by a half-length. Under a returning Reylu Gutierrez, the son of Catalina Cruiser clocked 1:36.53 and paid $17.20.
Sabertooth flew from last to get up for second, a neck up on Scipio, who nipped Mischief River in the photo for third. Next came Show of Force, Ivan the Great, 2.80-1 favorite An Chorr Dubh, Snowdonia, Coach Chuck, Toppers at Seaside, Tiz Happy, Run for Kidder, and Panuco. Johnson’s Magic, Pali Kitten, and Uncle Dude were scratched.
The 2-for-2 Artislas has $105,000 in his account for owners Irving Ventures, Michelle Arthur, William Meathe, and Jeanne Tumanjan.
Bred by the University of Kentucky, Artislas brought $20,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling, and Oscar Ramirez Bloodstock resold him for $100,000 at OBS March.
Artislas was produced by Moms Pride, a French-bred daughter of Into Mischief and granddaughter of blue hen Toussaud. The colt’s maternal relatives therefore include Empire Maker, Chester House, Honest Lady, and First Defence.
