Two Blondes Inc.’s LORD OF THE GAME (Saint Ballado) ended the $100,000
Hanshin Cup H. (G3) in exciting fashion on Saturday as the four-year-old colt
made a strong four wide rally in Arlington Park’s stretch to post a half-length victory. The Thomas Tomillo trainee sat off the pace in the early going
as Nkosi Reigns (Out of Place) set the first fraction in :23 2/5, and then waited
patiently under Eusebio Razo Jr. as 2-1 favorite Crafty Shaw (Crafty Prospector)
took over the lead, clocking :45 4/5, 1:09 3/5 and 1:22. Crafty Shaw was not able
to hold on to the lead, however, as Lord of the Game charged down the lane to
post the victory in 1:34 3/5 on a track labeled fast.
The dark bay paid $7.40, $4 and $3 at 5-2 while Gouldings Green (Charismatic)
got up late to give $4 and $3 at nearly 3-1. A neck back was Nkosi Reigns, who held the bronze position
and returned $5.40 at 14-1. Exotics paid
$23.40 (exacta) and $196.80 (trifecta) while Crafty Shaw rounded out the $542.90
superfecta ($1) (6-4-8-1). Home of Stars (Home at Last), Missme (Belong to Me),
Pass Rush (Crown Ambassador) and Stormy Impact (Major Impact) completed the order of finish.
This was Lord of the Game’s first stakes win and marks his sixth win in seven
tries with lifetime earnings of $209,400. Bred by WinStar Farm LLC, the Kentucky
bred is out of the unraced She’s a Winner (A.P. Indy) and is a half-brother
to an unnamed yearling colt and a 2005 colt, both by Storm Cat.