Baffert trying to make Pacific Classic with Nevada Beach

Nevada Beach, a three-time stakes winner in 2025 who has not raced since a 12th-place finish in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia in February, is under consideration for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 22.

On Thursday at Del Mar, Nevada Beach worked seven furlongs from the gate in 1:24.60. Trainer Bob Baffert said Nevada Beach will be nominated to the $1 million Pacific Classic, run at 1 1/4 miles, with a decision to be made closer to Aug. 16, when entries are taken for the Aug. 22 program.

“We’ve been trying to get him ready,” Baffert said. “He seemed to work well. His next work will tell me.”

Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, Nevada Beach has won 4 of 8 starts.

Last fall, Nevada Beach won the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita, but had mixed results at Del Mar, finishing seventh of nine in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1, and rebounding to win the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes three weeks later at odds of 1-10.

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Nevada Beach was second by a head to stablemate Nysos in the Grade 2 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes at Santa Anita last December in his final domestic start before the trip to Saudi Arabia.

Nysos was considered a candidate for the Pacific Classic, but was retired to stud on Monday after a scan revealed he was unfit to race and would need a lengthy rest.

The potential field is led by Knightsbridge, who was second to Nysos in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Saratoga on June 6 and the 10 1/4-length winner of the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup at 1 1/8 miles on July 18.

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