Bob Baffert Doubles Chances of Breeder’s Cup Win After Santa Anita Win

If there’s one thing you can always bet on, it’s Bob Baffert and his uncanny eye for talent. Need proof? First up was Nevada Beach, the 3-year-old colt who declared himself silently as an up-and-coming star at the Sept. 27 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita.  This was his fourth career start in a career that saw him making few such appearances, and Nevada Beach was not supposed to take away the limelight of seasoned stars such as last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano. But he did exactly that, blasting past the competition and earning his spot in the Breeders’ Classic at Del Mar. One rising star was already on the map, but Baffert wasn’t done yet…

Just a day later, focus moved to Imagination, a 4-year-old colt foal by Into Mischief and Magic Feeling. He was not the next best thing as he had just three wins in 13 career starts. However, following a distance of 1:00 of zipping five furlongs just a few days prior to entries closing, Baffert chose to gamble. He added Imagination to Sunday Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship of $4,000, an aesthetic gamble that would come to pass in the most visually exquisite manner. However, the actual fireworks followed after the gates were opened.

On 28th September, as the Santa Anita Park gates opened, Imagination faced a wide. Imagination started on the outside and was five wide on the backstretch, and around the turn, a tricky path for any horse. The 7-10 favorite, Straight No Chaser, was in the lead. Imagination remained patient, held on to third with a furlong left, and in the closing, he overtook Dr. Venkman and Straight No Chaser and won. The race finished at a record time of 1:09, allowing him to end a seven-race losing streak and earn a fee-paid position in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on November 1. This was a fantastic recovery, but the struggle was not over yet.

Wow!

IMAGINATION charges home in the G2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship!

That’s another one into the @BreedersCup for Bob Baffert and Juan Hernandez. #BC25 #winandyourein pic.twitter.com/Jqr1vo03zc

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) September 29, 2025

Dr. Venkman followed him in 1 3/4 lengths, and Straight No Chaser was another half a length behind him. The remainder of the field: Smooth Cruisein, Awesome Rhythm, Wound Up, Mbagnick, and Speed Boat Beach, came up behind them. Straight No Chaser had returned to the U.S. for the first time since last November’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, after competing in two $2M races in the Middle East, but couldn’t keep up with Imagination’s late burst.

Now, with Nevada Beach and Imagination both headed to the Breeders’ Cup, Bob Baffert has doubled his chances for glory. Two horses, two exciting stories, and one Hall of Fame trainer proving once again why he’s one of the best in the sport. Yet doubling your chances doesn’t mean halving your problems.

Del Mar will be the ultimate test for Bob Baffert

Well, Bob Baffert’s two horses, both initially considered underdogs, managed to steal wins leading up to the Breeders’ Cup. In the race, Nevada Beach stayed close behind the leader, Full Serrano, during the first quarter of the race, but seemed likely to be held by the favorite. Mike Smith was in reserve with the colt, and as they reached the last stretch, Nevada Beach appeared nearly finished; the openings were narrow, and it seemed the lead was to be lost.

Then, in his final burst of speed, he struggled onward, passing Full Serrano by a narrow margin and winning by 1½ lengths in 1:48.43. Hence, they won it. But it won’t always be so easy to win the Breeders’ Cup, which is full of hard competitors!

We have Sovereignty and Journalism, who are champions of the Derby and Belmont Stakes, and are fresh and will renew the battle at Del Mar. Sierra Leone, the Classic champion last year, returns.

And Kenny McPeek’s Mystik Dan still stares over shoulders following his Lukas Classic victory. Todd Pletcher is no exception, and he is turning Fierceness, Mindframe, and Antiquarian to make it interesting. Sure, the horses of Bob Baffert are, er, dark horses. But the question is now: can the underdogs stand the pressure and face the best of the best? Only time will tell.

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