DEL MAR, Calif. -- In four stakes appearances in California and Kentucky from early December to mid-May, Game Warrior finished second and fourth always racing in contention, at least briefly, in the final quarter-mile.
On Friday at Del Mar, Game Warrior was in contention again in the stretch in the $102,500 Oceanside Stakes. This time, Game Warrior carried the momentum to the finish. In the most comprehensive performance of his career, Game Warrior recorded an upset in the one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.
The Oceanside Stakes was the feature race on the opening day of the track’s summer meeting.
Ridden by Hector Berrios, Game Warrior ($40.60) closed from eighth of 10 to win by a half-length over an unlucky Iron Man Cal, the 1-2 favorite.
Berrios had Game Warrior on the inside to the stretch before rallying between pacesetter Kale’s Angel and Cali Cat with a furlong remaining.
“The race went perfect,” Berrios said. “I waited inside. He responded. He ran very well.”
Game Warrior was timed in 1:36.32, winning for second time in his 11th start. Game Warrior earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.
Iron Man Cal, who was sixth in the Grade 1 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 3, stumbled at the start. He closed with a rush through the final furlong to just miss reaching the front.
“What are you going to do?” said Billy Koch, part of the Little Red Feather partnership that co-owns Iron Man Cal.
“He stumbled. He took a bad step. They didn’t go that fast.
“He ran his heart out. Sometimes, you get a little unlucky.”
Lyle The Crocodile (10-1) closed from eighth to finish third. Artislas finished fourth, followed by Cali Cat, Day and Age, Incanto, Kale’s Angel, Bodi Zafa, and Mala.
Game Warrior and Kale’s Angel are trained by Peter Miller. Game Warrior races for Steve Reger’s Jethorse, Inc. Miller said after the race that he expected Kale’s Angel to race as a stalker. Instead, Kale’s Angel, the winner of three sprint stakes at Oaklawn Park and Turfway Park earlier this year, set a modest pace of 23.48 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.21 for a half-mile.
Kale’s Angel was prominent to the final furlong before fading, losing his advantage to Game Warrior.
“Hector gave him a super ride,” Miller said. “He saved all the ground.”
Game Warrior, by Game Winner, has earned $159,075. His only previous win was a one-mile maiden race on turf at Del Mar last October.
Game Warrior was later fourth in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at Del Mar in December in his final start of 2024.
Earlier this year, Game Warrior finished second in the Baffle Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita in February, and fourth in the Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park in March and the Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita in May.
In his final start before the Oceanside, Game Warrior closed from seventh of 10 to finish third by a length in an allowance race at a mile at Santa Anita on June 13.
Miller said in the winner’s circle that Game Warrior could have as many as two more starts in stakes for 3-year-olds on turf at the Del Mar summer meeting, with the $100,000 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 3, and the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Aug. 31 to be considered.
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