Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Confidence Game
Feb 27, 2023
Bargain buy Confidence Game all but ensured a start in the 2023 Kentucky Derby following his one-length tally in the $1 million Rebel S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 25.
The winner finished off 1
1/16 miles over the sloppy, sealed surface in 1:44.21 under the guidance of
James Graham, earning 50 points on the
2023 Road to the
Kentucky Derby challenge series, which to date has easily been enough to secure a place in the Derby gates.
'This horse is really putting it all
together, and he certainly did it today,' Graham said. 'He keeps
maturing and doing things the right way. I think the sky is the limit for
him.'
Confidence
Game notched his third victory, and his first career stakes win, in the Rebel at what was his seventh start.
The Candy Ride colt was bred in the Bluegrass State by Summer Wind Equine. He is the
first stakes winner produced from the winning Bernardini mare Eblouissante, who is
a half-sister to a pair of Grade 1 winners including three-time champion and
2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta.
Offered by Lane's End at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Confidence Game was bought by trainer Keith Desormeaux for $25,000, a great bargain considering his Rebel victory took his earnings past $785,000. He is the first stakes winner raced by Don't Tell My Wife Stables.
Trained by Desormeaux, the dark bay was unveiled on July 2 at Churchill Downs and finished
a distant third in a six-furlong maiden special weight contest. He reappeared
in a similar race beneath the Twin Spires on August 13 and led throughout en
route to a five-length score at second asking.
The
son of Candy Ride checked in fifth in the subsequent
Iroquois S. (G3)
while making his stakes bow, prior to coming home second best in an allowance
tilt at Keeneland. He concluded his juvenile campaign with a wire-to-wire
allowance heist at Churchill Downs on November 26, defeating Holy Bull S. (G3)
hero Rocket Can and Withers (G3) victor Hit Show in the process, and commenced 2023 with a third-place effort in
the
Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds.
'He's really come into his
own,' Desormeaux said. 'He started off pretty immature, but as the
races went on, he has improved things mentally and physically.'
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