Gaming rallied Sept. 7 to take the Del Mar Futurity (G1), becoming his sire Game Winner 's first graded stakes winner in a race he won as a 2-year-old in 2018.
Lane's End sold Gaming at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale last year to pinhooker Pick View Farm for $40,000. Pick View went on to sell him at the OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale for $250,000 to the Three Amigos partnership of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman.
On Sept. 18, during the ninth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Lane's End will offer Gaming's full brother. The dark bay or brown colt is out of the Johannesburg mare So Stylish. She is a half sister to One Cool Cat, winner of the Phoenix Stakes (G1) and the National Stakes (G1) and the European champion 2-year-old in 2003.
"He's very different than his full brother (Gaming)," said Allaire Ryan of Lane's End. "I would say physically he's more like Game Winner in that he's a typier version, still well made, super balanced, great head on him, good walk.
"He's got a very athletic look about him, great musculature to him, and a powerful mover. He's a feel-good type of colt. He's got high energy levels, which is great for days like this when you have one preview day to kind of get it all done. I'm happy with how he's held up."
The son of Candy Ride was named champion 2-year-old colt in 2018 and earned more than $2 million before retiring with a record of five wins from eight starts, off the board only once. He stood his first year at Lane's End for an advertised fee of $30,000. In 2024, his stud fee was $20,000.
Game Winner's first foals are 2-year-olds, and after flying under the radar earlier this summer, he is starting to break out. His most recent winner, Drop Your Gloves, won a maiden optional claimer at Woodbine Sept. 16.
Game Winner has had nine yearlings sell at the September Sale for a total of $868,000. His highest-priced yearling (Hip 768) sold for $450,000 to Belladonna Racing, Cherie DeVaux, agent. The colt is out of the graded stakes-producing mare D'Fashion.
"We're excited about (Game Winner)," Ryan said. "He was really well supported from the beginning by not just commercial breeders, but breeders like Jane Lyon, for example, supported him with some mares, and it's been rewarding to see them show up on the racetrack at this stage. So hopefully that momentum just continues."
