Nevada Beach holds class edge in Goodwood

Nevada Beach was not expected to present a serious challenge to either Forever Young or stablemate Nysos in the Saudi Cup (G1) back in February, and never really had an opportunity to prove it either way after stumbling at the start en route to finishing 12th of 13.

On Saturday, Nevada Beach faces a cast nowhere near as talented in his title defense of the $300,000 Goodwood (G1). An automatic bid for the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), in which Forever Young seems the probable favorite, will be awarded to the winner.

The Saudi Cup and last year’s Classic, in which he finished a distant seventh behind Forever Young, have been the only bad spots on Nevada Beach’s record. Although the 2025 Goodwood has been his signature win, perhaps his games performance was a head loss to Nysos in the Laffit Pincay Jr. (G2) last December. 

Mr. A. P., runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), returns to the dirt after going 1-for-3 in grass races this summer. Meanwhile, Saffie Joseph sends out Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) winner Forged Steel and the improving Caldera, a three-time allowance winner over one-turn miles this term.

Vodka Vodka, winner of the Sunland Park H. after finishing second in the Santa Anita H. (G1), should improve stretching back out around two turns. Grade 3 winner Original Sin, a distant second in the Pacific Classic (G1), is cross-entered in the Goodwood and Saturday’s Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs.

The first four across the wire in the Aug. 22 Del Mar Mile (G2), will have a rematch in the $200,000 City of Hope Mile (G2), a Breeders’ Cup Challenge prep for the Mile (G1).

Only half a length separated that quartet, with King of Gosford, Detain, El Potente, and the speedy Cabo Spirit finishing in that order.

Teao make his U.S. debut for John Sadler after being a multiple classic winner in Chile, as well as a two-length winner of the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1), one of South America’s most prestigious races, which was held in Peru in late April.

Shipping in from Kentucky is the Brendan Walsh-trained Irish Aces, closely placed in the Connaught Cup (G2) and King Edward (G2) at Woodbine over the summer.

In other stakes on the card, the $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship (G2) over 1 1/4 miles might come down to Atitlan, Atomic Age, or Mondego, all of whom finished one length of the winning Test Score in the Del Mar H. (G2) last time.

Farther up the track were Nitti and Flashiest, both of whom have run well at this level in the past.

A competitive renewal of the $200,000 Eddie D. (G2) at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf includes defending titlist First Peace, Green Flash H. (G2) winner Sorrento Sky, Daytona (G3) scorer Freedom’s Not Free, and San Simeon (G3) victor Sumter. 

The lightly raced Pure Madness, though, has never finished worse than second in seven starts and appears swift enough to make noise in his turf stakes debut.