How to Watch the 2025 Goodwood Stakes Schedule, Date, Full Field Odds, Past Winners, and Expert Analysis

The pulse of the fall racing season will be pounding in Arcadia, California, this Saturday as Santa Anita Park takes center stage. Known as “The Great Race Place,” Santa Anita is ready to host one of the premier events of the year: the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes.

With a $500,000 purse and Breeders’ Cup Classic implications, the Goodwood Stakes serves as a defining test for older horses aiming to solidify their place among the division’s elite. This is more than just another stop on the calendar; it’s a proving ground where champions are forged and reputations are secured against a competitive, well-balanced field.

Whether you’re a veteran bettor looking to identify hidden value or a casual fan eager to catch the spectacle, this guide will walk you through every angle of the big race. We’ll cover how to watch the Goodwood Stakes, provide in-depth analysis of the contenders, and highlight the insights you need to shape your betting approach. Be sure to keep an eye on the latest Goodwood Stakes odds as you prepare for this high-stakes day of racing.

How to Watch the 2025 Goodwood Stakes: Schedule and Date

Racing fans can look forward to a blockbuster day at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, September 28, 2025, with the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes serving as the headline attraction. The stakes-packed program will also feature several key Breeders’ Cup prep races, making it one of the most anticipated cards of the season. The Goodwood Stakes itself is slated as Race 10 on the card, with an approximate post time of 6:30 p.m. EST (3:30 p.m. local time in California).

For those unable to attend in person, the action will be available to watch live through major racing broadcasters and online streams. The BUSR Experience platform will deliver a smooth, high-quality broadcast that allows fans to follow every stride of the day’s racing drama. Up-to-the-minute Goodwood Stakes odds will also be posted throughout the day, so bettors can analyze the field and lock in their wagers well before the starting gate opens.

Expected Weather for Goodwood Stakes Day

Weather plays a crucial role in horse racing, influencing track conditions, race pace, and the strategies employed by trainers and jockeys. At Santa Anita on Saturday, September 28, 2025, conditions look favorable. Long-range forecasts predict partly cloudy skies, a high of 83 °F (28 °C), and overnight lows of around 61 °F (16 °C). Winds are expected to come from the southwest at 5 to 10 mph, and humidity is expected to remain moderate.

These forecasted conditions point strongly toward a fast, dry main track, giving each contender a fair shot without the complications of mud or slop. In such settings, horses with clean trips and strong stretch finishes tend to gain the most. That stability in surface condition means bettors won’t need to heavily discount for weather-induced factors, allowing handicappers to focus more squarely on form, pace dynamics, and jockey/trainer matchups.

Goodwood Stakes Official Odds and Expert Breakdown

The 2025 Goodwood Stakes (Grade I, 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita) features a compact but deep field of seven runners, each with a chance to punch their ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The morning-line odds show a mix of favorites and value plays, making this a compelling betting opportunity.

Here are the official morning-line odds and mounts:

• Gaming (6-1 Morning-Line Odds)
  • Trainer: Bob Baffert
  • Jockey: Kyle Frey
  • Analysis: Gaming is one of three Baffert entries and brings a solid late kick to the table. He arrives off a recent third-place finish and has the tactical speed to stalk or pounce late. Frey will need to time the move carefully, but if the pace is generous up front, Gaming could loom as a serious threat in the stretch.
• Ultimate Gamble (8-1 Morning-Line Odds)
  • Trainer: Mark Glatt
  • Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
  • Analysis: Ultimate Gamble has shown good speed in recent stakes efforts, posting strong Equibase figures. Cutting back to 1 1/8 miles may help sharpen his finish. Kimura gives him a steady ride, and from a mid-pack position, he could be a sneaky late kick horse.
• Privman (5-1 Morning-Line Odds)
  • Trainer: Bob Baffert
  • Jockey: Antonio Fresu
  • Analysis: Privman is lightly raced but consistent, having never missed the exacta in his career to date. He has upside on this kind of dirt route and will be interesting to see if Baffert pushes him forward early. Fresu must find the right path through traffic, but the colt’s improving nature makes him dangerous.
• First Mission (8-5 Morning-Line Odds)
  • Trainer: Brad H. Cox
  • Jockey: Paco Lopez
  • Analysis: First Mission is the morning-line favorite, thanks to strong graded-stakes form and tactical versatility. He can press or sit just off the pace, and Lopez excels at reading splits to time the stretch run. His consistency at this level gives him a solid chance to control the story.
• Nevada Beach (12-1 Morning-Line Odds)
  • Trainer: Bob Baffert
  • Jockey: Mike E. Smith
  • Analysis: Nevada Beach enters the Goodwood off a dominant win in the Los Alamitos Derby, receiving a jockey upgrade to Hall of Famer Mike Smith. He’s the least exposed in the field and could improve sharply at this distance. If Smith can position him just off the leaders, he’s a sleeper candidate.
• Express Train (20-1 Morning-Line Odds)
  • Trainer: John A. Shirreffs
  • Jockey: Hector Isaac Berrios
  • Analysis: Express Train brings upside as a high-figure last-out performer. Although his odds are long, he may offer value for exotic bets. Berrios knows how to coax out a late kick, and if the pace softens, Express Train could overtake tiring horses late.
• Full Serrano (2-1 Morning-Line Odds)
  • Trainer: John W. Sadler
  • Jockey: Juan J. Hernandez
  • Analysis: Full Serrano is a returning Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner and the most accomplished in this group. He’s making just his second start off a layoff, but his power and experience give him serious appeal. Hernandez should have him in position turning for home, and if he’s ready to fire, he’ll be hard to pass.

Past Winners of the Goodwood Stakes

To truly appreciate the prestige of the Goodwood Stakes, it's worthwhile to dig into its storied history. Since being inaugurated in 1982, this race has evolved into a key West Coast event, often serving as a springboard for Breeders’ Cup aspirations.

Over the years, many of the sport’s greats have claimed this race, and its roll of champions reads like a Hall of Fame list. The connections and pedigrees behind these winners underscore the level of talent that typically contests this event.

Here are a few recent and notable Goodwood (and equivalent Awesome Again / California Crown) winners to set the stage:

• 2024 – Subsanador (ARG): In 2024, the race was run as the California Crown Stakes, and Subsanador (ARG) captured the top spot under jockey Mike E. Smith, reinforcing the international flavor that sometimes colors this event.
• 2023 – Slow Down Andy: Representing top-class U.S. talent, Slow Down Andy found the winning margin thanks to tactical positioning and a powerful late surge.
• 2022 – Defunded (Trainer: Bob Baffert): Defunded carried forward the Baffert legacy in this event and displayed a strong late kick to close out the mile-and-an-eighth.
• 2021 – Medina Spirit: Perhaps no winner is more poignant in recent memory: Medina Spirit, ridden by John Velazquez for Baffert, overcame adversity and controversy to notch his victory here.
• 2019 – Mongolian Groom: With a win in 2019, Mongolian Groom demonstrated that the Goodwood is no stranger to horses with big closing speed and the stamina to get 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

Santa Anita Awaits for Race Weekend Action

The 2025 Goodwood Stakes is more than just another stop on the calendar; it is a showcase of class, determination, and championship potential. With Breeders’ Cup berths on the line, Saturday promises an unforgettable day of racing at Santa Anita, packed with drama, storylines, and wagering opportunities. From the smooth live coverage on BUSR Experience to the electric stretch drive on Santa Anita’s famed dirt track, this is an event no racing fan should miss.

Be sure to check the latest Goodwood Stakes odds before post time and lock in your wagers. Whether you’re discovering the sport for the first time or are a veteran bettor looking for value, the Goodwood Stakes delivers the perfect blend of history, excitement, and opportunity. The moment to get into the action is now. 

US Racing Team

The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.