Kentucky Derby Pedigree Profile: Game Winner

Game Winner wins the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs (c) Coady Photography

by Dick Powell

Gary and Mary West’s GAME WINNER capped off his brilliant juvenile campaign with a fine tally in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs. The soon-to-be champion two-year-old male rolled home to a fourth win without a blemish.

The Kentucky-bred was also best in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and American Pharoah Stakes (G1) prior to his winning run in the Juvenile, and has banked $1,496,000 to date.

Game Winner is by champion Candy Ride, who has sired at least 80 black-type winners from 11 crops to date. His progeny has amassed in excess of $94 million on the racetrack, led by his standout son Gun Runner, the 2017 Horse of the Year.

The Bob Baffert-trained Game Winner is the third registered foal out of the unraced A.P. Indy mare Indyan Giving. Flagstaff, the first foal produced from Indyan Giving, broke his maiden at Santa Anita in the summer for conditioner John Sadler.

The second dam of Game Winner is two-time Grade-1 winning millionaire and champion Fleet Indian. The New York-bred Indian Charlie mare had her finest season in 2006 with six straight wins prior to being pulled up in her career finale in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fleet Indian secured stakes wins in each of the victories in her five-year-old campaign, including the Personal Ensign (G1) and Beldame Stakes (G1). She retired with a lifetime line of 19-13-0-1, $1,704,513.

1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy is the broodmare sire of Game Winner. The son of Seattle Slew has been responsible for numerous accomplished horses as a broodmare sire. His daughters have produced, among others, 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) victor Super Saver; 2013 Kentucky Derby third Revolutionary; 2007 Haskell Stakes (G1) hero Any Given Saturday; 2006 Haskell winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Bluegrass Cat; 2006 champion three-year-old filly Wait A While; three-time Eclipse Award recipient Royal Delta; and 2011 Kentucky Oaks (G1) starlet Plum Pretty.

Game Winner was purchased for the bargain price of $110,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The colt was consigned by Lane’s End, agent, and the ticket was signed by Ben Glass, agent.

He is by a versatile stallion and the colt should receive plenty of stamina through his dam’s family. The early 2019 Kentucky Derby favorite has the appearance, class and foundation to be a menacing force on the Triple Crown Trail next season.