Game Winner too good in American Pharoah S. (G1)

Game Winner stamped himself as a favorite for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) after a dominant performance in the $300,000 American Pharoah S. (G1) Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita Park.

The American Pharoah, previously known as the FrontRunner S. and Norfolk S., was renamed this year for Bob Baffert’s 2-year-old Champion Male and eventual Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year.

Game Winner, who won the Del Mar Futurity (G1) after a debut maiden victory, is now a perfect three-for-three with $396,000 in earnings for Gary and Mary West.

Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile race was billed as a showdown between Game Winner and Rowayton, who ran second in the Del Mar race. And for the first six furlongs, those two were side by side, but once they entered the stretch, Game Winner got stronger, while Rowayton seemed to tire. The result was that Game Winner drawing off to win by four over Gunmetal Gray, who rallied to be second.

“I can’t take credit for this horse,” Baffert said afterward. “The Wests and their team found this horse and trusted me with him. … I just want to get (to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs) with a nice, healthy horse. This horse tipped us off this summer that he was going to be a good one.” 

Baffert has won this race a record seven times, including with its namesake in 2014.