TDN RISING STARS

November 17, 2018 - Del Mar, Race 1, Msw, USD $53,000, 7F, .0000

Coliseum, C, 2, 2016 by Tapit

1st Dam: Game Face (GISW, $799,348), by Menifee
2nd Dam: Galleon of Gold, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Harbour Club, by Danzig

Owner: Godolphin LLC
Breeder: Godolphin LLC (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert

Godolphin homebred Coliseum (c, 2, Tapit–Game Face, by Menifee) entered the starting gate with a lofty reputation and certainly lived up to the hype on debut at Del Mar Saturday, becoming another no-brainer ‘TDN Rising Star’ for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

Breaking out a bit from his inside draw, the striking gray quickly established command through a :22.88 opening quarter. The 1-2 favorite began to let it out a notch beneath Joe Talamo entering the far turn, kicked for home in complete command and was never asked for serious run while striding away to a jaw-dropping win. It was 6 3/4 lengths back to stablemate Figure Eight (Power Broker) in second.

Game Face, a $280,000 OBSMAR juvenile purchase by Zabeel Racing International, captured the 2009 GI Princess Rooney H. Game Face had a filly by First Defence in 2017. She was most recently bred to Candy Ride (Arg).

The off-shore bookmaker Bovada had Coliseum listed at 20-1 in its latest winterbook wagering for the Kentucky Derby prior to his debut win as reported in Bill Finley’s Week in Review column earlier this week.