In the $100,000 Native Diver (G3) race at Del Mar on Saturday, heavy favorite Nevada Beach, favored 1-9, set the pace and secured a half-length victory. Jockey Juan Hernandez positioned Nevada Beach third at the first turn, about three lengths behind the leader. Westwood, at 8-1 odds, led along the rail until British Isles, a 16-1 outsider, pushed him into second place on the backstretch. As British Isles briefly took the lead entering the far turn, Nevada Beach surged on the outside, drawing level near pole eight. Though British Isles challenged in the final two furlongs, Nevada Beach held strong to win by half a length.
Hernandez described Nevada Beach’s run as effortless, noting the horse’s impressive size and strength, saying, “He’s a train but he got the job done.” British Isles finished 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Westwood in third but could not keep up down the stretch, finishing 5 3/4 lengths in front of fourth-place Indispensable, who faded in the final stretch.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Nevada Beach notched his second significant stakes win and third overall, improving his record to 6-4-1-0. The three-year-old colt, by Omaha Beach and owned by Mike Pegram, Carl Watson, and Paul Wightman, previously won the Goodwood (G1) at Santa Anita before finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar on November 1. His earnings now total $426,550.
Nevada Beach paid $2.20 to win, with Clouzot’s scratch removing any show bets. Bred in Kentucky by the Paul Tackett Revocable Trust, Phil Tackett Estate, and Christy Tackett, Nevada Beach was bought for $260,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The race times were: 1:23.42, 1:47.17, 1:11.25, and 1:35.95 for the first mile, finishing at 1:48.35.
Juan Hernandez commented on Nevada Beach’s effort, saying the horse was easier to ride than in his last race and showed great potential for longer distances. Jimmy Barnes, assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, expressed satisfaction with Nevada Beach’s performance, stating there were few moments of concern during the race.
Fan Take: Nevada Beach’s consistent performance and ability to dominate at this level highlights the exciting future of young talent in the sport. For horse racing fans, this victory signals a promising contender who could shape high-stakes racing seasons to come, increasing both competition and entertainment value.
