Two starts was all it took for Modern Games to become the new darling of North American turf racing. The Godolphin homebred, who became the first horse in history to capture both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) and Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) left the Del Mar debacle far behind when he was crowned 2022 champion turf male of the year Jan. 26.
"He's beginning to get some fanfare around the world, but it's great to see him get the recognition today that he didn't get 12 months ago from no fault of his own," trainer Charlie Appleby told BloodHorse after the colt’s thrilling victory in the Nov. 5 Mile.
In the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar, Modern Games was the subject of a controversial steward’s call when he was ruled as scratched after trotting out the front gate prior to the race when his stablemate Albahr flipped over in the stall next to him. Minutes later however, officials declared Modern Games would compete but run for purse money only. Modern Games then proceeded to score in the Juvenile Turf amongst a frustrated betting public.
Turning the page into his 2022 season, the son of Dubawi competed predominantly in Europe, acing his first test of the year in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) before putting on admirable showings against the fiercest competitors from across the pond. He was a game second to 2022 Cartier Horse of the Year Baaeed in the Sussex Stakes (G1) and checked in third to multiple group 1 winner and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) runner-up Vadeni in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, G1).
Shipped to Woodbine for his second foray overseas, Modern Games put on a scintillating performance when taking the Woodbine Mile (G1T) by 5 1/4 lengths over notable miler Ivar. Swinging six wide for home under regular rider William Buick, Modern Games displayed a devastating turn of foot down the Woodbine straight, racing to a final mile of 1:32.77, only a tick off the track record.
After suffering a heart-wrenching defeat to 33-1 shot Bayside Boy in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) at Ascot in his final prep for the Breeders' Cup, Modern Games returned to the United States a stronger and more confident animal than he was the year before and defeated no less than 10 individual grade/group 1 winners on Championship Saturday. Forced to rally eight-wide into the lane, the wide trip mattered little to the chestnut comet, who cemented his second Breeders’ Cup title and gave the Godolphin team one of their remarkable four Breeders’ Cup victories from the weekend.
Although he ran just twice in the U.S., the Irish-bred left a memorable impression in both of his starts. He completed his 3-year-old season sporting a 3-2-1 record from seven trips to the post and a bankroll of $2,581,368.
Modern Games, produced out of the New Approach mare Modern Ideals, is a half sister to the promising 3-year-old filly Mawj (Exceed and Excel), winner of the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (G2) last summer at Newmarket.
