Lane's End announced Sept. 23 that undefeated champion 2-year-old and graded-stakes winning 3-year-old Game Winner has been retired from racing and will stand for the 2021 season.
Game Winner, who has earned over $2 million from four graded stakes wins, is the second-highest-earning colt by prominent sire and Lane's End stallion Candy Ride . During his 2-year-old season in 2018, Game Winner was unbeaten with victories in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), American Pharoah Stakes (G1), and Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs. As a 3-year-old, Game Winner started the year with runner-up finishes in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) before finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), beaten by just over three lengths. In his last career start, he won the Los Alamitos Derby (G3).
"As a 2-year-old, he was just phenomenal. He really brought it to that championship level," Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. "To do what he did really showed that he was the best of the best. Candy Ride was a brilliant racehorse and he throws brilliance, and with Game Winner, the minute he showed that brilliance, I knew we had something special."
Owned by Gary and Mary West, Game Winner broke his maiden at first asking at Del Mar, dominating the field by 5 3/4 lengths, and gave his connections the confidence to target the Del Mar Futurity 16 days later. Game Winner joined an elite list of just three colts to win three or more North American grade 1 races as a 2-year-old in the past 20 years, according to Lane's End.
"Champion 2-year-olds make great sires," said Bill Farish with Lane's End. "Street Sense , Uncle Mo , American Pharoah , and now Nyquist looks very promising. All were the very best of their generation and now are among the elite stallions in America. Game Winner dominated in his championship year and was a graded stakes winner at 3. He is a champion from the immediate family of a champion, so we are honored that Gary and Mary West have entrusted Lane's End with his stallion career."
Game Winner was retired due to a high suspensory injury in his left front leg that he incurred in the Los Alamitos Derby, according to Farish, and just never adequately recovered.
In the Kentucky Derby, Game Winner was a fast-finishing fifth after getting knocked hard out of the gate and being as far back as 17th at the halfway point. He finished just over three lengths behind the winner and earned the highest Thorograph figure of .25 of the field. His final 3-year-old start was a dominating five-length win in the Los Alamitos Derby. After breaking his maiden, Game Winner never earned an Equibase Speed Figure below 100.
"Mary and I have been excited about Game Winner since the day Ben Glass bought him for us at Keeneland," Gary West said. "These special horses are so hard to come by, and to have a champion means everything to us. I am so pleased he will stand at Lane's End, and I plan on supporting him extensively as I have with my other stallions, alongside the superior group of shareholders they have put together. This includes Alpha Delta, Summer Wind Farm, SF Bloodstock, Mt. Brilliant Farm, Sea Horse Breeders, West Point, and St. Elias. They are among the best breeders in America and undoubtedly will support him and contribute greatly to his chances to be a successful stallion."
Bred in Kentucky by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm, Game Winner is out of the A.P. Indy mare Indyan Giving, who has also produced graded stakes winner Flagstaff. His second dam is champion Fleet Indian, who won five graded stakes and earned over $1.7 million. To date, Candy Ride has produced 45 graded/group winners, which include 16 grade 1 winners and seven champions. His career progeny earnings exceed $113.4 million.
Game Winner will be available for inspection in the coming weeks and a stud fee will be determined.
