Baffert sweeps Santa Anita Breeders Cup preps with three berths

ARCADIA, Calif. Nevada Beach upset heavy favorite Full Serrano and Bob Baffert swept the weekend’s major preps at Santa Anita, where three Grade I and II winners on Saturday and Sunday secured automatic berths and sharpened plans for the Breeders Cup at Del Mar next month. Nevada Beach captured the Grade I Goodwood Stakes on Saturday to earn a spot in the Breeders Cup Classic, undefeated Cavalieri won the Grade II Zenyatta Stakes on Sunday to lock up a Distaff berth, and Imagination rallied to take the Grade II Santa Anita Sprint Championship and a place in the Breeders Cup Sprint.

Nevada Beach, a lightly raced 3 year old by Omaha Beach, rallied under Mike Smith to prevail by about 1 1/2 lengths in the 1 1/8 mile Goodwood, completing the distance in 1:48.43. Owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman and trained by Baffert, Nevada Beach pressed a modest early pace, took command in the stretch and held off Full Serrano, who finished second. Privman, a colt by Justify making his stakes debut for Baffert, was third. Baffert said the winner would likely go on to the Classic and praised Nevada Beach’s upside. Smith said he switched tactics midrace. “I went to Plan B, and...