Nevada Beach lands G1 win for Omaha Beach, earns Breeders’ Cup Classic berth
September 28, 2025
Omaha Beach’s lightly-raced and rapidly-improving 3yo colt Nevada Beach landed a breakthrough victory in the $300,000 Goodwood Stakes (G1) on Sept. 27th at Santa Anita, out-finishing a field of older horses including defending Breeders’ Cup winner Full Serrano in the storied 1 1/8-mile race.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was impressed by his budding star who earned a berth into this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Nov. 1 at Del Mar with the win.
“We’ve always been really high on this horse and thought he had this in him. The way he ran today, we’ll be there,” he said in reference to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) being Nevada Beach’s next start.
Ridden by Mike Smith, Nevada Beach followed the favored Full Serrano into the stretch before extending his big, long frame and impressively running by that rival, finishing 1 1/2 lengths on top at the wire in 1:48.43 over a fast track. The dark bay earned a career high 101 Beyer for the performance which marked just his fourth lifetime start.
Bred by Paul Tackett Revocable Trust, Phil Tackett Estate & Christy Tackett, Nevada Beach increased his career earnings to $296,500 to date for “Three Amigos” which consists of longtime successful owner Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, & Paul Weitman. They purchased the colt as a yearling for $260,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale.
In his previous start 3 months ago, Nevada Beach dominated the Los Alamitos Derby by 4 1/4 lengths over straight 3-year-olds. Baffert said he considered his talented colt for premier 3-year-old races this summer such as the Haskell (G1), Travers (G1), and Pennsylvania Derby (G1), but remained patient given his inexperience. That clearly paid off on Saturday.
“I almost took him to Parx last week (for the Pennsylvania Derby) but decided to keep him home,” said Baffert. “I told Mike Pegram this is a good horse. I’m really excited about him.”
Like Nevada Beach, the trajectory of his sire Omaha Beach’s young career at stud is also quickly ascending. The win gave the No. 1 Third-Crop Sire his third Grade 1 winner in the last 12 months, along with another exciting contender in this year’s Breeders’ Cup.