Nevada Beach scrapes home in Native Diver

The Bob Baffert-trained Nevada Beach brought a substantial class edge into Saturday’s $98,000 Native Diver (G3), as the Goodwood (G1) romper who was exiting a seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). But the 1-10 favorite cut it much closer than expected, taking the length of the stretch to prevail over the 16-1 British Isles at Del Mar.

Winning rider Juan Hernandez said afterward that Nevada Beach was getting a bit “lazy.” Judging by how he opened up on the gallop-out, the Omaha Beach colt had more in reserve than it might have appeared to his backers.

Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes wasn’t concerned with how the race unfolded.

“I had no idea how it was going to set up. I didn’t have many anxious moments, no,” Barnes said. “He won, we got it done.” 

Not quick into stride at the start, Nevada Beach nevertheless secured a fine stalking position in third in the four-horse field. The robust dark bay raced in the clear, within close striking range of front-running Westwood through fractions of :23.42 and :47.17.

Rounding the far turn, however, the picture changed. Pace-prompting British Isles increased the pressure passing six furlongs in 1:11.25 and soon grabbed the lead. Nevada Beach looked momentarily flat-footed, and Hernandez already had to resort to right-handed encouragement. 

At the same time, British Isles – a former Baffert pupil by his 2018 Triple Crown champion, Justify – continued his momentum into the stretch. Although he’d been plying his trade exclusively on turf for Richard Baltas, British Isles was running the race of his life on the switch back to dirt. 

Nevada Beach kept grinding, gradually drew alongside British Isles, and wore him down by a half-length. The sophomore, who was giving one pound to the four-year-old British Isles, negotiated 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.35.

Another 2 1/4 lengths astern in third came Westwood, trailed by Indispensable. Clouseau was scratched. 

Nevada Beach paid $2.20 in a race without show wagering and enhanced his resume to 6-4-1-0, $426,500. Campaigned by longtime Baffert clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, he is now 3-for-3 at this nine-furlong distance, all in stakes. 

The late bloomer won his April 19 debut going a mile at Santa Anita, and placed second in the 1 1/16-mile Affirmed S., before dominating on the step up in trip in the Los Alamitos Derby. Nevada Beach made it two in a row in the Goodwood over older horses, but found the Breeders’ Cup Classic beyond him at this stage of his career. The Native Diver suggested that he’s still learning the game.  

Hernandez found Nevada Beach responding differently from the last time he was aboard, at Los Alamitos. 

“He won easy today, but his last race, it’s almost like two different horses,” Hernandez said in comparison with the Los Alamitos Derby back on June 28. 

“He broke a step slow (in the Native Diver). I had to help him get into the rhythm. Around the three-eighths pole, I had to start working on him because he was getting a little lazy on me. But Bob (Baffert) knows that this horse has talent. I trust Bob, so I started working on (Nevada Beach), and it worked out. 

“He is a big horse – he is a train. He got the job done, though. I want to give my thanks to the owners for giving me the confidence. He may want to run a little more distance. He galloped out of the race well.”

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