Overview
- Nysos held off Nevada Beach by a head to win the Grade II Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes in 1:42.36, the fastest since the race moved to this distance in 2017.
- Baffert completed a three-stakes sweep with Goal Oriented taking the Grade I Malibu and Usha capturing the Grade I La Brea.
- Baffert said Nysos is likely to target the Saudi Cup on Feb. 14 and did not rule out sending Nevada Beach, with the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 24 as an alternate option.
- Santa Anita announced an opening-day crowd of 41,962, its largest for an opener since 2016 after a two-day rain delay.
- Jonathan Thomas scored upsets with Hiding in Honduras in the Mathis Mile and Ambaya in the American Oaks, while jockey Antonio Fresu was evaluated at a hospital after a mid-card incident and Kazushi Kimura picked up the American Oaks mount.