In order to participate in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, Courageous needed to demonstrate his ability. He accomplished this by outperforming four Bob Baffert trained horses in the Grade 1 $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes presented by DK Horse, which took place Oct. 4 at Santa Anita Park with Hector Berrios as the jockey.
Ruben Islas and Michele Arthur, the horse’s owners, are fortunate because they won’t have to make a long journey when their 2-year-old competes in the Breeders’ Cup. They both reside in San Diego, which is close to Del Mar, the track hosting the Breeders’ Cup.
“This is such a thrilling experience. This horse is truly exceptional,” Islas expressed. “Hector had to hold him back on three separate occasions. He was getting stuck in traffic. Yet, he still managed to finish with such strength against such high-caliber horses.”
Baffert seemed to hold a strong position in the race, with four of the six horses in the lineup under his guidance, all of whom were considered serious contenders. Desert Gate, who had previously secured a convincing 8 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar, was the clear frontrunner and started with odds of 9-10. Courageous was ranked fourth, following Kristofferson (second choice) and Plutarch (third choice), both also trained by Baffert.
Jeff Mullins, the trainer, expressed concerns that Courageous might find himself “in a fierce battle” if he attempted to take the lead in the American Pharoah, a scenario Mullins was keen to avoid.
“I simply inquired of Hector, ‘Do you believe this horse is capable of rating?’ He assured me it wouldn’t be an issue,” Mullins recounted.
Desert Gate, with Juan Hernandez in the saddle, posed a significant threat on the lead and indeed surged to the front early in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah Stakes, while Kristofferson kept pace, completing the first quarter mile in :22.83.
“The race got off to a somewhat tricky start,” Berrios commented. “I initially aimed for the lead, but when I saw Juan break ahead, I settled into second place. From the first turn onward, I had to ease back slightly.”
It wasn’t until the final stretch that Courageous managed to secure a clear path to initiate a rally.
“When I shifted to the outside, he responded, although his initial reaction wasn’t particularly strong,” Berrios noted. “However, upon my second urging, he responded with a remarkable burst of speed and surged down the final stretch.”
Desert Gate, after contending with Kristofferson, then had to face Plutarch in the stretch. Courageous executed his move flawlessly from the outside, overtaking both in the closing stages and winning by three-quarters of a length in a time of 1:43.67. Desert Gate maintained second place, narrowly edging out Plutarch in third. Kristofferson faded and finished last.
Courageous paid $19.60 for the win.
In addition to securing a “Win and You’re In” spot with all expenses covered for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, the American Pharoah also marked a stage in the Road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, awarding him 10 points toward participation in the upcoming year’s Derby.
Prior to the American Pharoah, female sprinters competed in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes. Tamara, the heavy favorite at 2-5 and a daughter of Hall of Famer Beholder, triumphed in the race by a margin of 3 3/4 lengths, clocking in at 1:15.21. Silent Law, the runner-up, finished a significant 14 1/2 lengths ahead of Ang N Ash, who placed third.
Mike Smith guided Tamara for trainer Richard Mandella and owner Spendthrift Farm. Tamara, a 4-year-old offspring of Bolt d’Oro, was making her comeback after a hiatus from racing since November 2024.
“I had planned for her to be ready for the La Brea opening day (Dec. 26),” Mandella stated. “However, she struck the rail at the training track upon exiting, resulting in a chipped sesamoid. She appeared to be in good form today.”
Mandella indicated that if everything progresses as planned, Tamara will be directed toward the PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Mission of Joy achieved her first stakes victory since joining trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable by winning the Grade 2 $200,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes Oct. 4 at Santa Anita.
This victory grants Mission of Joy an automatic entry into the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, thanks to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” initiative.
After trailing in sixth for the majority of the 1 1/4-mile Rodeo Drive under jockey Umberto Rispoli, Mission of Joy made a late surge to defeat Speed Shopper by a narrow head, finishing in 2:00.03. Starry Heavens, also under D’Amato’s training, secured third place. Mission of Joy had odds of $25.80 to win.
“I believe she performs best when ridden in the European style, remaining covered up for most of the race,” D’Amato explained. “It’s all about timing the run perfectly and guiding her to the outside. I thought Umberto executed that flawlessly today.”
Rispoli added, “She prefers navigating around other horses rather than squeezing through tight spaces, and she responded exceptionally well today.”
Despite Baffert’s loss in the American Pharoah Stakes, he secured a noteworthy 2-year-old victory later in the event when his filly, Explora, claimed the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association as the overwhelming favorite at 2-5. Explora’s win earned her a “Win and You’re In” invitation to the upcoming NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.
Following Explora’s second-place finish to Baffert’s Bottle of Rouge in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Stakes on Sept. 6, Baffert made the decision to remove the blinkers, which proved successful. In the Oak Leaf, Explora, guided by jockey Juan Hernandez, settled into third position along the backstretch, trailing behind the early leader Himika, also trained by Baffert. Explora advanced on the outside during the second turn, seizing the lead and pulling away to secure a decisive 4 1/4-length victory in 1:44.13. La Wally finished in second, followed by La Ville Lumiere in third.
“I was focused on getting her to relax since she was overly eager at Del Mar,” Baffert explained. “She returned, and Juan has been diligently working with her, emphasizing relaxation. You never know for sure if it will work until you witness it firsthand. When I observed her on the backstretch, I wondered, ‘I hope she’s relaxing; either she’s relaxing or she’s not going to perform well.'”
As Explora approached the quarter pole, she emphatically answered Baffert’s question, surging ahead to win by a significant margin of 4 1/4 lengths.
