2025.01.23 Oaklawn Racing Update

Compiled by Robert Yates

Needing one victory in early November to clinch a championship, Gaming is now seeking a resume reboot in late January.

“He went from the top 12 to nowhere,” Bob Baffert, Gaming’s Southern California-based Hall of Fame trainer, said Wednesday morning. “That’s the way it is in this business. You’re only as good as your last race.”

Gaming’s first opportunity to snap a two-race losing skid comes Saturday at Oaklawn when he makes his 2025 debut in the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. Probable post time for the Southwest, which headlines a 12-race program, is 4:10 p.m. (Central). First post is 11:25 a.m.

Raised to seven figures for the first time after previously being worth $800,000, the Southwest will offer 42 total points (20-10-6-4-2, respectively) to the top five finishers toward Kentucky Derby starting eligibility. It is Oaklawn’s second of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races, a series that continues with the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) Feb. 22 and the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) March 29.

Gaming, the 2-1 program favorite, is the most accomplished entrant in the Southwest, a race Baffert has won a record six times. From the first crop of champion Game Winner, Gaming has already collected 18 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and is among three finalists for an Eclipse Award as the country’s champion 2-year-old male. He won his first two starts, including the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1) at seven furlongs Sept. 8 at Del Mar.

Positioned for year-end honors in his next start, Gaming finished second behind stablemate Citizen Bull in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at 1 1/16 miles Nov. 1 at Santa Anita, then fizzled in the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) Dec. 14 at Los Alamitos – his final race at 2 – finishing a well-beaten third as the 1-2 favorite. That race was also 1 1/16 miles.

“He’s doing well,” Baffert said. “He ran a big race in the Breeders’ Cup. I might have been a little too easy on him for the Los Al. I wasn’t sure if I was going to run in there and then at the last minute decided I was going to run him there. He just didn’t bring his ‘A’ game that day. Just got a little bit worked up in the paddock. He was too fresh. He didn’t bring it and that’s what happens.”

Gaming has four published workouts at Santa Anita in advance of the Southwest. All were five furlongs, including a bullet drill (:58.60) Jan. 11. Gaming is the latest in a long line of Triple Crown hopefuls Baffert has sent to Oaklawn for their first starts outside California. That list includes champions Lookin At Lucky and American Pharoah, who both won the Rebel in their 3-year-old debuts. American Pharoah returned to win the Arkansas Derby before sweeping the Triple Crown.

Baffert said Gaming arrived Tuesday afternoon after being flown from California.

“He shipped well,” Baffert said. “Everything went well there, so he got that done.”

Baffert trains Gaming for long-time clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. They teamed to win the second division of the Southwest and Rebel in 2012 with Secret Circle. Baffert also won the Southwest in 2010 (Conveyance), 2012 (first division with Castaway), 2013 (Super Ninety Nine), 2022 (Newgrange) and 2023 (Arabian Knight).

Game Winner, Baffert’s champion 2-year-old male of 2018, made his 3-year-old debut in the 2019 Rebel (second division) and finished second, beaten a nose by Omaha Beach.

Southwest entrants from the rail out: Gaming, Juan Hernandez to ride, 117 pounds, 2-1 on the morning line; Publisher, Erik Asmussen, 117, 12-1; Monet’s Magic, Francisco Arrieta, 119, 15-1; Tiztastic, Keith Asmussen, 119, 10-1; Render Judgment, Emmanuel Esquivel, 117, 15-1; Sandman, Cristian Torres, 119, 5-1; Patch Adams, Flavien Prat, 117, 5-2; American Promise, Tyler Bacon, 117, 6-1; Bon Temps, Nik Juarez, 117, 30-1; and Speed King, Rafael Bejarano, 117, 15-1.

The projected starting field has already been reduced from 10 to nine because Render Judgment will be scratched because of a foot issue, trainer Kenny McPeek said. McPeek won the 2024 Southwest and Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan.

The Southwest is one of six stakes races on the card.