Saturday guide: Santa Anita features BC Classic qualifier

Saturday marks five weeks until the Breeders’ Cup, and tracks from coast to coast put on their preps for the championships. Belmont at Aqueduct presents the Woodward, Churchill Downs has the Lukas Classic and Santa Anita the Grade 1, $300,000 Goodwood Stakes for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

As the California prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Goodwood has drawn a field of six topped by Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile victor Full Serrano and Grade 2 winner First Mission. 

Click here for Santa Anita entries and results.

Full Serrano came to the U.S. from Argentina last August to trainer John Sadler. He quickly asserted himself as one of the best on the West Coast with a runner-up finish in the Pacific Classic (G1) and the win in the Dirt Mile. He suffered an unspecified injury last winter that kept him off until last month, when he won his comeback in an allowance at Del Mar.

First Mission comes into the race off a hard-fought battle in Monmouth Park’s Philip H. Iselin (G3), where he finished a length behind long shot Surface to Air. Before that the Brad Cox trainee was third in the Stephen Foster (G1) behind Mindframe and Sierra Leone, the top two East Coast older horses pointing for the Classic. Umberto Rispoli replaces suspended Paco Lopez for the ride.

Veteran Grade 1 winner Express Train has not won a race since the 2022 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), although he had a year-long layoff in 2023. He has hit the board in 3 of 4 starts this year.

With Gaming being scratched, Bob Baffert brings two entries to the Goodwood. They are Privman, who has won two in a row but has no stakes experience, and lightly-raced Nevada Beach, winner of the Los Alamitos Derby last month. Both Bafferts are 3-year-olds hunting a victory against older horses.

Full Serrano and First Mission surely will take a lot of money at the windows, but this could create some opportunity using the Baffert horses. Of them, Nevada Beach has the most upside with two wins in three starts, including one in a stakes. His sole loss is a runner-up to Gaming in a stakes.

The Goodwood is race 9 with a post time of 8:08 p.m. EDT. It will be shown live as part of FanDuel TV’s daily coverage of Santa Anita.

Free past performances for Saturday’s major stakes are courtesy of Brisnet.

These are the fastest speed figures and ratings for the Goodwood field.

*Beyer and TimeformUS speed figures are courtesy of Daily Racing Form.

Horse Racing Nation handicappers

Ed DeRosa is all-in on the shipper First Mission. Get the scoop and how to play this race in his Goodwood Stakes fair odds.

HorseCenter is focused on the Breeders’ Cup Classic this week with Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman taking a deep dive on all the top contenders.

The two panelists disagree on the Goodwood winner in this edition of Head to Head handicapping. See where Ashley Tamulonis and Laurie Ross landed on this stakes.

The Ron Flatter Racing Pod features trainer Brad Cox offering the inside scoop on First Mission in the Goodwood. Former FanDuel TV host Ken Rudulph tells us what he is doing now as well as his long-shot play for the Goodwood. Paddock Prince handicapper David Levitch has Saturday tips for Churchill Downs and the Belmont at Aqueduct cards.

Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park team up for two multi-race bets, the Sunset 6 and the returning coast-to-coast Pick 5. Here are some handicapping tips for these wagers from Mark Midland.

Before you play, here are the incoming jockey stats for Santa Anita’s fall meet.

Who among the Santa Anita jockey colony provide the best value this fall? Midland takes a deeper dive to find out whether the winningest riders provide the best return on investment.

Super Screener Mike Shutty has a long-shot play for Sunday to help you close out your weekend on a high note.

It’s less than five weeks away. Pre-order your Breeders’ Cup Super Screener now.

2025 Goodwood G1