There’s just one Grade 1 winner in the field of nine for Saturday’s $300,000 Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita, and that would be Nevada Beach, who returns seeking to become the first two-time winner of the race since Game on Dude in 2011-12.
Nevada Beach, the 7-5 morning-line favorite, is trained by Bob Baffert, who also sends out lightly-raced Taif (8-1), a maiden winner at third asking on Sept. 7.
Meanwhile, Nevada Beach will be racing for the first time in 7 ½ months, finishing 12th of 13 in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) after a troubled start.
While the field may lack star status, the Goodwood is the final Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win, and You’re In” race to the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
Among the entries who were shipped in for the race are Original Sin (6-1) for Brendan Walsh, McAfee (15-1) for George Weaver, and Forged Steel and Caldera, each 5-1, for Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.
Also entered are Vodka Vodka (15-1), Midnight Mammoth (30-1), and Mr. A.P. (8-1).
Nevada Beach won the Goodwood last year with Mike Smith aboard. On Saturday, Juan Hernandez gets the call leaving from the outside post 9.
After the win at 8-1 odds, Nevada Beach ran seventh of nine in the BC Classic at Del Mar and closed out his 3-year-old campaign by winning the Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar and finishing second by a head to stablemate Nysos in the Laffit Pincay, Jr. Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita on Dec. 28.
The son of Omaha Beach has been working steadily for months, posting a recent workout of 4 furlongs in 47.10 seconds at Santa Anita on Sept. 20. His stalking style should allow Hernandez to see how the pace unfolds and then make his move as the field turns for home.
Baffert, who trained Game on Dude, has won the Goodwood nine times.
Forged Steel returns to the site of his biggest victory – the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) in May. He was shipped back East, where he finished off the board in the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Saratoga in July and in the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Aug. 22 on a return trip West. Forged Steel makes his 21st career start; Edwin Gonzalez has the call on the 4-year-old who can stalk or set the pace.
Caldera, a 4-year-old son of Liam’s Map, brings a three-race win streak into the Goodwood, all three in optional claimers after Joseph became the trainer following the death of D. Wayne Lukas. Paco Lopez will ride.
Original Sin also returns to Santa Anita after running second to Knightsbridge at 21-1 odds in the Pacific Classic. The gray 4-year-old son of Curlin, Original Sin will be ridden for the first time by Kizushi Kimura. He has one graded stakes victory on his resume, the Blame Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 30.
The Goodwood is one of five stakes on Saturday’s card. The others are the City of Hope Mile (G2), an automatic qualifier for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1); the John Henry Turf Championship (G2); the Eddie D Stakes (G2); and the John C. Harris Stakes (G3).
Post time for the Goodwood is 7:30 p.m. ET
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taif (KY) | E Jaramillo | B Baffert | 8/1 |
| 2 | Vodka Vodka (CA) | K J Desormeaux | A Ordonez | 15/1 |
| 3 | McAfee (KY) | H I Berrios | G Weaver | 15/1 |
| 4 | Original Sin (KY) | K Kimura | B P Walsh | 6/1 |
| 5 | Midnight Mammoth (KY) | T Baze | C Dollase | 30/1 |
| 6 | Mr. A. P. (KY) | J Rosario | V Cerin | 8/1 |
| 7 | Forged Steel (KY) | E Gonzalez | S A Joseph, Jr. | 5/1 |
| 8 | Caldera (KY) | P Lopez | S A Joseph, Jr. | 5/1 |
| 9 | Nevada Beach (KY) | J J Hernandez | B Baffert | 7/5 |
Last Updated on 09/23/2026
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
