Bob Baffert’s Horses Shine on Opening Day at Santa Anita
Santa Anita’s Opening Day Delayed by Rain, but Thrills Await as Baffert Shines
Santa Anita Park celebrated its opening day on Sunday, two days later than scheduled due to heavy rainfall, but the wait proved worthwhile for racing fans. The highlight was the thrilling stretch run of the $200,000 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes.
Trainer Bob Baffert enjoyed a stellar day, with his horses Nysos and Nevada Beach finishing in the top two positions of the Grade 2 Pincay. He also triumphed in two Grade 1 races, taking home victories in the La Brea with Usha and the Malibu with Goal Oriented.
This marks the fourth occasion that Baffert has secured three stakes wins on a single day at Santa Anita, matching a similar achievement from last year’s opening day.
Baffert expressed his enthusiasm not just for the victories but also for the large turnout, which included an announced crowd of 41,962—the highest for an opening day since 2016. "It’s great to see this place packed. Look, everybody came out… And they saw a great horse race," he said from the winner’s circle.
As the horses entered the stretch, Baffert felt confident about his lead. Nysos, the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile champion ridden by Flavien Prat, was inside Nevada Beach, winner of the Goodwood Stakes and ridden by Juan Hernandez. Nysos, favored at 1-5, had lost only once in seven lifetime races, yet for a moment it seemed he might not pass Nevada Beach, who is three years younger.
In a repeat of the Dirt Mile, Nysos managed to edge out Hernandez’s mount in a thrilling finish, winning by a head. Hernandez remarked, "I was close… He was giving me everything he had."
The Grade 2 Pincay has transitioned to one of the day’s key events, especially featuring Nysos. He completed the race, covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.36, the fastest time since the race’s distance change in 2017.
Looking ahead, Baffert indicated that Nysos might next compete in the $20-million Saudi Cup on February 14 in Riyadh, with Nevada Beach potentially targeting the $3-million Pegasus World Cup next month at Gulfstream Park.
Baffert faced a setback with two morning-line favorites, Barnes and Cornucopian, who were scratched from the Malibu. Barnes had a "minor setback" prior to the race, while Cornucopian experienced an incident in the paddock. Despite these challenges, Goal Oriented, now the favorite, clinched his first stakes win, crossing the finish line in 1:20.97.
Usha, running in her first Grade 1 race, impressed by winning the La Brea in 1:21.68, finishing 5¼ lengths ahead of the 2-1 favorite, Formula Rossa.
The opening day also featured the $200,000 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds, where long shot Hiding in Honduras claimed victory after passing Tempus Volat in the final moments.
In the $100,000 San Gabriel, Cabo Spirit took control early and secured a 1¼-length win over Astronomer. The day concluded with another Grade 1 event, the $300,000 American Oaks, won by Ambaya, another trainee from Jonathan Thomas.
Looking forward, the two race cards canceled due to rain will be rescheduled for Monday and Wednesday, featuring free parking and admission. Both days will include two stakes races. Additionally, rain is predicted starting Wednesday, prompting track officials to monitor conditions closely. Racing is set to continue through Sunday, transitioning into the regular schedule of Fridays through Sundays beginning January 9.
