Nevada Beach floors Full Serrano, punches BC ticket in Goodwood

Bob Baffert has a three-year-old to go to war with in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) after all, thanks to late-blooming Nevada Beach’s upset in Saturday’s “Win and You’re In” $300,500 Goodwood (G1) at Santa Anita. The lightly-raced sophomore overpowered 1-2 favorite Full Serrano in the final furlong to stamp himself as an 11th-hour contender. 

Baffert’s experienced sophomores haven’t been able to lay a glove on division leaders Sovereignty and Journalism. Nevada Beach wasn’t ready in time to try the Triple Crown trail, but he’s come a long way since the summer, earning his chance to take on the established stars on the biggest stage.

With only three starts under his belt, Nevada Beach was conceding both racing experience and maturity to Full Serrano and the other older horses in the Goodwood. The Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman runner didn’t even make it to the races until April 19. Duly winning here on debut, he was second to his more streetwise stablemate, Gaming, in the June 8 Affirmed S. 

Nevada Beach took a step forward to dominate three opponents in the June 28 Los Alamitos Derby, proving himself at this 1 1/8-mile distance. The son of Omaha Beach now faced a class test in the Goodwood, and he aced it with a new jockey in the saddle – Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who also rode his ultra-talented sire.

Nevada Beach’s previous rider, Juan Hernandez, logically stuck with Full Serrano. The reigning Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner was odds-on to flaunt his class in the Goodwood. Brad Cox shipper First Mission attracted support as the 2.40-1 second choice, while Nevada Beach was the tepid 8.50-1 third option in a six-horse field.

Baffert had one other three-year-old engaged, after the scratch of Gaming, and his 14-1 Privman may have given Nevada Beach an assist. Flashing speed on the inside early, Privman made Full Serrano work a bit more to pass him through an opening quarter in :23.58. Privman then eased back and let the favorite go.

Full Serrano was just beginning to find his comfort zone when Smith allowed Nevada Beach to advance into a prompting second. After the half-mile in :47.86, Smith upped the ante, passing six furlongs in 1:11.63.

Nevada Beach appeared to be traveling more strongly than Full Serrano as the duo matched strides on the far turn. But the older Argentine import responded gamely as they swung into the stretch. Would his tradecraft prevail over the relative immaturity of Nevada Beach?

The answer came just inside the eighth pole. Despite showing some greenness by hopping onto his left lead, Nevada Beach had too much firepower to be contained. The big dark bay imposed his will, finally switched back to his right lead, and crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths clear.

After a final eighth in :12.31, Nevada Beach completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.43 and returned $19. 

Full Serrano did his Dirt Mile prospects no harm by finishing easily best of the rest, implying that reverting in trip can only help. Privman reported home another 3 1/4 lengths back in third. First Mission was a lackluster fourth, trailed by Ultimate Gamble and Express Train. 

Nevada Beach advanced his scorecard to 4-3-1-0, $296,500, with the prospect of more to come. 

“Nevada Beach traveled beautifully,” Smith said. “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.”

“It is like getting the band back together again,” Baffert said of his reunion with Smith. 

“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,” Baffert continued. “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.

“Mike rode Omaha Beach, and I really like Omaha Beach. I think he is going to be a really good sire.”

Bred in Kentucky by the Paul Tackett Revocable Trust, Phil Tackett Estate, and Christy Tacket, Nevada Beach was purchased for $260,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. His dam, the multiple stakes-winning Morrow Cove, is a Yes It’s True half-sister to Grade 1 vixen Decked Out. They descend from a full sister to champion De La Rose. 

Santa Anita coverage continues with recaps of the turf stakes led by the City of Hope Mile (G2), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).