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Nevada Beach Punches Breeders’ Cup Classic Ticket as Baffert Bags Three Santa Anita Stakes

The weekend delivered automatic entries that clarified targets for multiple Baffert runners ahead of Del Mar.

Overview

  • Nevada Beach scored an 8-1 upset in the Grade 1 Goodwood under Mike Smith, defeating heavy favorite Full Serrano by 1½ lengths to secure an automatic Breeders’ Cup Classic berth.
  • Bob Baffert scratched Gaming from the Goodwood, calling it “not a good spot,” leaving Nevada Beach and Privman to represent the barn in the race.
  • Imagination captured the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship and earned a fees‑paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, a target Baffert said is now in play.
  • Cavalieri won the Zenyatta Stakes as stablemate Seismic Beauty was confirmed to go straight to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff without another prep.
  • Equibase noted Baffert leads North American trainers with 260 Grade 1 wins since 1976, while decisions such as whether juvenile Brant runs in the Oct. 4 American Pharoah or trains up to the Juvenile remain pending.