Returning to Arcadia means heading back to one of horse racing’s iconic venues. While fans often cherish visits to Del Mar, Saratoga, or Keeneland for their unique charm, it’s staples like Belmont, Churchill Downs, and Santa Anita that sustain the sport year after year. This homecoming to Arcadia signals the lead-in to the prestigious Breeders’ Cup World Championships and serves as a reminder that much of the racing season is already behind us.
The Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes, a 9-furlong dirt race at Santa Anita, offers its winner an automatic berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic and a shot at a share of the $7 million prize pool.
Nevada Beach, last year’s champion, is back at Santa Anita aiming to reclaim glory. He last competed at the $20 million Saudi Cup, where he finished well behind Forever Young, the world’s top dirt horse. Having not raced since, rival connections like those of McAfee and Original Sin, both trained east of the Rockies, see this as the perfect opportunity to challenge him on his turf.
Here’s a breakdown of the contenders and a betting recommendation. If you plan on wagering at Santa Anita, consider AmWager, which offers new customers a 100% deposit match up to $50.
Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes. 9 furlongs on dirt. For horses 3 years and older. Purse: $300,000.
1. Taif (8/1) — Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo. Trainer: Bob Baffert.
Purchased for $1.45 million in April 2023, Taif has won only once recently—and that victory came this month on turf. With so many uncertainties, he is an unlikely winner on dirt despite a good jockey booking.
2. Vodka Vodka (20/1) — Jockey: Kent Desormeaux. Trainer: Aggie Ordonez.
Vodka Vodka’s best performance this year was a slow-paced Grade 1 win at the SA Handicap. To compete against this talented field, he’ll need to elevate his game significantly, which looks improbable despite the skill of jockey Desormeaux.
3. McAfee (15/1) — Jockey: Hector Berrios. Trainer: George Weaver.
Once a Derby hopeful, McAfee missed key qualifying spots and recently won a race restricted to horses without a second win. Trainer George Weaver has opted to send him west rather than the familiar Churchill Downs. He seems outclassed but might be a worthwhile longshot bet at this price.
4. Original Sin (6/1) — Jockey: Kazushi Kimura. Trainer: Brendan Walsh.
Also shipped west by trainer Brendan Walsh, Original Sin performed well at Grade 1 level, finishing second in the Pacific Classic to Knightbridge. His top form came in the Grade 3 Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs—over identical conditions to today’s race—making him a solid contender.
5. Midnight Mammoth (30/1) — Jockey: Tyler Baze. Trainer: Craig Dollase.
Midnight Mammoth narrowly missed a graded stakes win last May at Santa Anita’s Gold Cup but has only one sprint victory this year. With this tough field, his chances look slim.
6. Mr. A.P. (8/1) — Jockey: Joel Rosario. Trainer: Vladimir Cerin.
Mr. A.P. stood out as a promising two-year-old in 2025 and has transitioned well to turf as a three-year-old, rarely finishing worse than third. Aside from one off performance at Kentucky Downs, he’s consistently strong and could shine today, continuing the legacy of his sire, American Pharoah.
7. Forged Steel (5/1) — Jockey: Edwin Gonzalez. Trainer: Saffie Joseph, Jr.
Forged Steel is the defending Grade 2 Gold Cup champion here at Santa Anita and is trained by the ambitious Saffie Joseph, Jr., who frequently targets major races. Coming off a solid run in the Pacific Classic where his fitness was evident, he is the top pick for this race.
8. Caldera (5/1) — Jockey: Paco Lopez. Trainer: Saffie Joseph, Jr.
Once one of veteran trainer D. Wayne Lukas’s last trainees, Caldera is undefeated this year under Joseph’s care but only at one-turn miles. Although two turns might be a test, his past performances have been strong, and he races on Lasix—a factor to consider—with Lopez aboard.
9. Nevada Beach (7/5) — Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: Bob Baffert.
Nevada Beach is the class of the field on his peak days. Despite the layoff from his underwhelming Saudi Cup run, his recent training indicates good form. His recent Southern California stakes record is impressive, and he remains the favorite to win—though any upset might come from a horse peaking post-layoff.
Betting Pick from The Sporting Tribune:
$1 Pick 3, starting in Race 6 ($24 total): [2,3,5] / [1,7] / [4,7,8,9]. Best of luck!
Fan Take:
This race highlights not only the blend of seasoned champions and emerging talent but also how key West Coast races set the stage for the Breeders’ Cup. Keeping an eye on horses like Nevada Beach and Forged Steel gives fans a glimpse of the evolving dynamics in elite dirt racing and the thrilling narrative of the sport’s most competitive season.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
