LORD OF THE GAME (Saint Ballado) was sent off the 6-5 favorite in Saturday
night’s $300,000
Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) and vindicated
that status with a head victory in the nine-furlong test. Racing in the colors
of 2 Blondes Inc., the dark bay colt stalked pacesetter Tricky Mocha (Tricky
Creek) through fractions of :23 2/5, :47 2/5 and 1:11 before putting in his run
between horses in the stretch. Lord of the Game, Silver Axe (Silver Ghost),
Mambo Train (Kingmambo) and Habaneros (Tabasco Cat) all hit the wire together,
but it was the former who managed to get his head down on the line under Eusebio
Razo Jr.
“It’s been a pretty quick start,” said newcomer William Slevin, who owns 2
Blondes Inc. stable which he named after his wife and daughter. “In fact, it’s
been a wild ride. (Lord of the Game) is just amazing; he’s a monster. He’s just
got the attitude to be a champion. He’s a true fighter.”
Trained by Tom Tomillo, the four-year-old paid $4.40, $3.80 and $3.60 while
starting exotics of $22.80 (exacta) and $248.80 (2-1-8 trifecta). Silver Axe had
a nose up on Mambo Train, returning $7 and $5.60 at 10-1, while show gave back
$14 as the 40-1 second-longest shot in the field. Habaneros finished just
another head back in fourth and was followed by Cryptograph (Cryptoclearance),
Skipaslew (Skip Away), Scooter Rains (Prospect Bay) and Tricky Mocha after
Musique Toujours (Musique d’Enfer) was withdrawn.
Lord of the Game stopped the clock in 1:49 4/5 over the fast Prairie Meadows
dirt and, in the process, earned his second graded victory after taking the
Hanshin Cup H. (G3) prior to this one. He also owns a third in the National
Jockey Club H. (G3), which is his only loss from eight career starts now, and
has earned $349,400. Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm LLC, Lord of the Game is
out of the unraced She’s a Winner (A.P. Indy) and counts two unnamed Storm Cat
colts, a yearling and a 2005 foal, as half-brothers.