Kopion, Nevada Beach a strong Breeders’ Cup duo for Omaha Beach
October 30, 2025
Omaha Beach, the leading Third-Crop Sire across the board in 2025, has a pair of solid contenders in this year’s Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, with Kopion in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and Nevada Beach in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Both races are on Saturday, with the Sprint going as race 6 at 4:21 pm ET and the Classic as race 9 at 6:25 pm ET.
Kopion will take on males in the Sprint, with trainer Richard Mandella preferring the six-furlong distance rather than the seven furlongs of the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). Kopion has been in excellent form for the past year, winning three graded stakes and placing second in two others. Owned by Spendthrift Farm, her overall record stands at 5-3-0 in nine starts with earnings of $1,144,700.
Kopion, who was bred by Tall Oaks Farm, drew the rail in the field of 14 and will be ridden by Mike Smith.
Nevada Beach will face one of the deepest fields ever assembled for the Classic. Even with the unfortunate scratch of Sovereignty due to a fever, the field boasts eight Grade 1 winners out of nine entrants.
Three-year-old Nevada Beach earned his way into the Classic by beating older horses in last month’s Goodwood S. (G1) at Santa Anita Park, the third win in four starts for the Bob Baffert trainee. Nevada Beach will break from post three with rider Mike Smith.
Nevada Beach is owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, who purchased him for $260,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling sale. The dark bay was bred by Paul Tackett Revocable Trust, Phil Tackett Estate & Christy Tackett.