By Steve Sherack
Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman's lightly raced 3-year-old Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), last seen capturing the Los Alamitos Derby June 28, fired fresh off the bench to punch his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with an 8-1 upset victory for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert against older horses in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Goodwood S. at Santa Anita.
Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile upsetter Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast) was second as the 1-2 favorite. Privman (Justify) was third.
Fourth beneath Mike Smith heading into the clubhouse turn, Nevada Beach pressed Full Serrano through a half mile in :47.86. He turned up the heat midway on the far turn and fought his way past that game rival to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths.
“It's like getting the band back together again,” Baffert said. “We have always been really high on this horse, we had just little setbacks. Today he showed what he is made of. Going into it, I knew he was going against Full Serrano, and I have a lot of respect for him. They were running hard. Turning for home I thought, 'Well, this is when you find out what you are really made of.' He dug in and Mike Smith rode a beautiful race. I have a great team that helps me get them ready. This one is really special because sometimes you have them over the barrel, but it is exciting. I really appreciate a win like this when you don't expect them.”
Smith added, “Nevada Beach traveled beautifully. There were different strategies going into this race and Bob told me that he will go every bit of the mile and eighth so to do what I needed to do. I was brave enough to go ahead and push at the end there and the horse responded great.”
Nevada Beach won his debut going a mile Apr. 19 at Santa Anita, then finished second behind stablemate Gaming (Game Winner) in the Affirmed S. June 8 at Santa Anita. He earned a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure in the Los Al Derby last time.
Pedigree Notes:
Nevada Beach was purchased by the 'Three Amigos' for $260,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. The three Arizona businessmen have been partners in several top horses trained by Baffert, including champions Lookin At Lucky and Midnight Lute as well as fellow Grade I winners Hoppertunity, McKinzie, Secret Circle, et al. Nevada Beach becomes the seventh graded winner for Omaha Beach and third at the top level. Nevada Beach's dam, two-time stakes winner Morrow Cove (Yes It's True), is a half-sister to GISW Decked Out (Street Boss). She is also responsible for the unraced 2-year-old filly Queen of Cairo (American Pharoah).
#5 NEVADA BEACH ($19) under @mikeesmith10 upsets the favorite Full Serrano in the $300,000 Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita and earns a spot in the @BreedersCup. The son of Omaha Beach (@spendthriftfarm) is trained by Bob Baffert.
Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/82iorDX6SP
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 28, 2025
Saturday, Santa Anita
GOODWOOD S.-GI, $300,500, Santa Anita, 9-27, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:48.43, ft.
1–NEVADA BEACH, 120, c, 3, by Omaha Beach
1st Dam: Morrow Cove (MSW, $182,610),
by Yes It's True
2nd Dam: Once Around, by You and I
3rd Dam: Persimmon Hill, by Conquistador Cielo
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($260,000 Ylg
'23 KEESEP). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul
Weitman; B-Paul Tackett Revocable Trust, Phil Tackett Estate
& Christy Tackett (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Mike E. Smith.
$180,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $296,500. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Full Serrano (Arg), 124, h, 6, Full Mast–Serra Do Mar (Arg),
by Jump Start. O-Hronis Racing LLC; B-Stud Haras Gran Muneca
A. (Arg); T-John W. Sadler. $60,000.
3–Privman, 118, c, 3, Justify–Mo Knows, by Uncle Mo.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK
TYPE. ($625,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight
Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne
Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J.
Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan;
B-Betz/B&K Canetti/J.Betz/D.J. Stables/Graves/GTL (KY); T-Bob
Baffert. $36,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 8.50, 0.50, 14.00.
Also Ran: First Mission, Ultimate Gamble, Express Train. Scratched: Gaming. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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