Game Winner to Miss Travers Due to a Virus

The complexion of the 150th Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) took an unexpected turn Aug. 15 when trainer Bob Baffert announced 2-year-old champion Game Winner will not be running the Aug. 24 Mid-Summer Derby for 3-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course after developing a virus.

Owned by Gary and Mary West, Game Winner loomed as one of the favorites for the $1.25 million Travers before the setback, especially after working a sharp six furlongs Aug. 13 in 1:12 at Del Mar.

"We're still absorbing the disappointment. He's going to be fine, but it's the timing. It's too bad because he couldn't be doing better right now. I haven't thought about anything now," Baffert said. "He worked great (Tuesday), but today he had a little temperature. There's been a little virus going through the barn. He was my second one this week. Hope it stays away from the others."

While the virus is not expected to sideline Game Winner for a long period of time, missing the Travers could complicate plans for the Wests' stable. While the Sept. 21 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing could be an attractive Plan B for Game Winner, they also own Maximum Security, the TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) who was disqualified from first in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Though Maximum Security is considered a leading candidate for the Travers, trainer Jason Servis has yet to commit the homebred son of New Year's Day as a Travers starter and has mentioned the Pennsylvania Derby as an option if Maximum Security is not ready for the Aug. 24 test.

"Game Winner will miss the Travers and he will return to racing when he's 100%," Gary West said. "Maximum Security's next race is being determined and Jason Servis will decide where to run him next." 

Game Winner,  a son of Candy Ride  who has captured five of eight starts for earnings of $2,027,500, is coming off a five-length victory in the July 13 Los Alamitos Derby (G3). Bred by Summer Wind Equine. he was bought for $110,000 from the Lane's End consignment at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

For Baffert, the sudden reversal of fortunes illustrated the emotional rollercoaster ride the sport can be.

"You have to enjoy it while it's going good. There's a lot of disappointment in this game," Baffert said. "We won the Whitney with McKinzie two weeks ago, and we were all pumped up. A few days later we hear about (NYRA director of horsemen's relations) Carmen Barrera dying and that brought us down."

Baffert said he will not enter a horse in any of the graded stakes on Travers weekend at Saratoga, but did have one horse he would like to run as a substitute in the Travers, except for one small problem.

"I'd like to bring McKinzie back and run him in the Travers," Baffert said about the 4-year-old colt who is too old for the Travers but came out of the Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes (G1) fine. McKinzie will most likely run next in the Sept. 28 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.