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Game of Skill Delivers in the Steward's Cup, Retires to Stud
Original article written by Fanta Arcadia posted 11 years 2 weeks agoBefore Game of Skill could transition from his life as a racehorse to his new life as a stallion, he had just one more race to win. That race was the Steward’s Cup Sprint; it was a race that he had finished third in last year.
Yet this year there was no Quicker Than Light and this year Game of Skill was older, faster, and determined to not let anyone get the better of him.
Game of Skill was sired by Lost Puzzle and was born from the Villain mare Observe. So it was only natural with a father that is rising as quickly in the breeding industry as Lost Puzzle is that his son would be anything but sensational. This year, Game of Skill would go all out and put everything on the line to end his career with a bang.
Even though Quicker Than Light had bowed undefeated by a nose the year prior Pistol Pete, the unfortunate victim of Quicker Than Light in the shadow of the wire, would be making his final season on the track as well. The game veteran was more than ready to give Game of Skill enough of a challenge to make this year interesting.
Naturally as a sensational four year old Game of Skill was being pointed for Dubai and he would win his first prep race, the Sand Storm Stakes, by a length and a half and was Desert Golden Sprint bound. Once he made it to the starting gate for the prestigious event, he met his old foe Pistol Pete and the filly Shegoeswithangels. Just when the world though that Pistol Pete was going to put an early demise on Game of Skill’s plans for an undefeated season, Game of Skill came roaring back to surpass Pistol Pete by three quarters of a length under the wire.
After his tour de force in the Middle East, Game of Skill returned to the States and was ready to dish out some heartbreaking defeats to his opposition. His first start stateside was in the Tycoon Stakes at The Spa. Delorean never stood a chance as Game of Skill won by a length under the wire. Pistol Pete was back to challenge Game of Skill, this time the stage was set in the Kentucky Crown Sprint. It was another close race between the two and with Killer thrown in the mix. Yet Game of Skill prevailed over Pistol Pete by a quarter of a length on the wire, back in third a half of a length behind Pistol Pete came the bay horse Killer.
The last dance for Game of Skill came in the biggest dance of them all. It was the race the dirt sprinting world had been waiting for, and Game of Skill gave them a show. Breaking outwards at the start, Game of Skill settled in fifth until the second call. He finally made his move around the turn that would place him in third at the top of the stretch, as soon as he was out of the turn and switching leads the black horse took off and defeated Delorean by a length and a half.
After his stellar victory he was retired to stand at stud in Louisiana for $30,000. One mare that has already been bred to him is the stunning, blue hen broodmare In White Light that is Steward owned and bred. The resulting foal is a chestnut filly named Losing the Light.