Kentucky-bred Nevada Beach made his graded stakes debut a winning one, prevailing over Full Serrano (ARG) in the $300,000 Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita. With the victory, Nevada Beach earns a fees-paid berth to the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Ridden by Mike Smith, Nevada Beach settled in fourth position early in the 1 1/8-mile fixture. He moved up to apply pressure to Full Serrano into the backstretch. And then dueled with that rival around the far turn. Nevada Beach inched away from his foe entering the final furlong, drawing clear late to score by 1 ½ lengths at the wire.
“They were running hard,” said winning trainer Bob Baffert. “Turning for home, I thought, ‘Well, this is when you find out what you are really made of.’ He dug in, and Mike rode a beautiful race.”
Smith said of the trip, “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.”
Owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Nevada Beach is by Omaha Beach. He is out of the Yes It’s True mare Morrow Cover. He was purchased by his current connections for $260,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September yearling sale. The 3-year-old colt won his debut in April at Santa Anita. He then finished second in the Affirmed Stakes and won the Los Alamitos Derby in June. Nevada Beach is now 3-for-4 lifetime with earnings of $296,500.