2026 Goodwood Stakes Preview at Santa Anita Park

Key Takeaways:

• The final automatic Breeders’ Cup Classic berth is on the line in the Goodwood, with a nine-horse field led by defending winner Nevada Beach and several contenders looking to make a late-season move.
• The race features several horses with pace, making tactical positioning important at Santa Anita, while Nevada Beach and Caldera both face questions after extended layoffs or stretches to two turns.
• Caldera is the top pick at 5-1 after winning three straight allowance races, with his tactical speed, improving form, and previous success at 1 ⅛ miles giving him plenty of upside.
• Original Sin is the second pick at 6-1 after chasing home Knightsbridge in the Pacific Classic, with proven 1 ⅛-mile form and the versatility to take advantage of the expected pace.
• Nevada Beach rounds out the picks at 7-5, with last year’s Goodwood win, proven Santa Anita form, and a favorable stalking style making him the class of the field despite the long layoff.

The road to the Breeders’ Cup Classic is reaching its final stretch, and the final automatic bid to the race is at stake Saturday, September 26, in the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes. The 1 ⅛-mile race, open to horses aged three and up, offers a $300,000 purse alongside the automatic ticket to the richest race of the Breeders’ Cup festival.

The morning-line favorite is Bob Baffert-trained Nevada Beach, who hasn’t raced since the Saudi Cup in February but has done his best work at Santa Anita, including a victory in this race last year. Other top contenders include Forged Steel, the upset winner of the Santa Anita Gold Cup (G2) in March, as well as Caldera, who has won three races straight since an extended layoff and returns to graded-stakes company for the first time in a year and a half.

The Goodwood Stakes may be a newer name to some racing fans, but in this case, everything old is new again. The race was inaugurated in 1982 as the Goodwood Handicap, as a nod to England’s Goodwood Racecourse. It was renamed in 2012 as the Awesome Again Stakes, after the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner. The race was again renamed the California Crown Stakes for its 2024 running, but reverted to its original Goodwood moniker the next year.

Two Breeders’ Cup winners have come out of this race to win the Classic in recent years: Mucho Macho Man won in 2013, while Accelerate swept the pair in 2018. Other stars to win this race during its history include Lord at War (1984-1985), Ferdinand (1987), Silver Charm (1998), Tiznow (2000), Pleasantly Perfect (2002-2003), and California Chrome (2016).

Goodwood Stakes Information

• Race Date: Saturday, September 26
• Track: Santa Anita
• Post Time: 4:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time
• Distance: one and one-eighth miles on the dirt
• Age/Sex: three-year-olds and upward
• Where to Watch: FanDuel TV
• Where to Bet: FanDuel Racing

2026 Goodwood Stakes Draw and Odds

These are the nine entrants in the 2026 Goodwood Stakes, along with their trainers, jockeys, post positions, and morning-line odds.

Goodwood Stakes Prep Race Results

The nine runners in the Goodwood Stakes come out of eight different races. The only one with more than one last-out runner is, fittingly, a different Breeders’ Cup qualifier: the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. Original Sin rallied from last for second behind the impressive runaway winner Knightsbridge; Forged Steel stalked in range of the quick pace and faded to seventh.

Three others come out of stakes company as well, though they all finished off the board. Nevada Beach has been on the shelf since finishing 12th in the Saudi Cup (G1) on February 14, stumbling early and never getting involved. Vodka Vodka also had to deal with a rough break in his last start, in the Pat O’Brien (G2); he passed a few tiring horses and checked in seventh. Mr. A. P. tried the Kentucky Downs grass in the Gun Runner on September 7, chasing on evenly and finishing ninth behind Bottas.

Three others come out of allowance company. Caldera stalked and pounced to win a conditioned allowance dirt mile at Colonial on August 20. Midnight Mammoth set the pace in a dirt mile at a similar level at Del Mar on August 30, but was caught late and had to settle for third. McAfee won a first-level allowance July 3, the Saratoga summer-meet lid-lifter, setting a contested pace before drawing off to win; the race was a 1 ⅛-mile dirt race, the same distance as the Goodwood.

One horse faces winners for the first time in the Goodwood. Taif, the second-stringer for Bob Baffert, broke his maiden September 7 at third asking, rallying to win by a nose on the lawn, and now switches back to dirt and stretches out.

Goodwood Stakes Contenders

These are the nine runners in the starting gate for the 2026 Goodwood Stakes, in order of post position.

1. Taif: Hopes were high when he sold for $1.45 million as a two-year-old, but he didn’t make it to the races until the end of his sophomore season, was off over a year after that start, and has raced just twice this year. He broke his maiden earlier this month on a switch to the grass, and now switches back to dirt and jumps up for his stakes debut. It is interesting that, even after the speed he showed in his two previous starts, he was able to stalk and pounce last out, going his longest distance yet – that indicates some quality. There’s enough in the pedigree to suggest 1 ⅛ miles could work as well. But, even with this being as marginal a Grade 1 as it gets, he’s still making a big jump from maidens to saltier foes, and needs to run his best race yet to find the frame.
2. Vodka Vodka: He ran an uncharacteristic clunker last out, but he was cutting back to one turn, and he stumbled early. Now he stretches back out to a more familiar two-turn trip – two back he won a 1 ⅛-mile stakes at Sunland, and three back he earned a Grade 1 placing going 1 ¼ miles in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1). Trainer Aggie Ordonez excels second off the layoff, and there’s other speed in the field; he needs to improve, but on the return to his better game he has a long-shot chance to invade exotics.
3. McAfee: Hopes have always been high since he’s a half-brother to 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna. But, his crowning moment so far came last out when he won by open lengths at Saratoga – in a one-other-than. To his credit, that race was 1 ⅛ miles, just like this one, and he has hit the board in four of his five starts going this trip. But, he needs a significant step forward to hold his own.
4. Original Sin: He got a dream setup last out in the Pacific Classic, but was runner-up to a monster in Knightsbridge. The good news is, he can successfully shorten up to 1 ⅛ miles: he won the Blame (G3) at the trip three back and a second-level allowance at Keeneland four back over the trip. The Brendan Walsh trainee is tactically versatile enough to either close from the clouds or track closer up, and he can run well at different tracks. Especially with a few pacemakers in this field, he has a lot of upside.
5. Midnight Mammoth: He has run and even won at a wide range of distances in his career, but at this point in his career, he hasn’t been showing up when asked to run in stakes company. He is probably going to be part of the pace – but with plenty of other pace in here, including Forged Steel and Caldera to his outside, it’s unlikely that he gets the trip he needs to be a late factor, rather than just an early pace influence.
6. Mr. A. P.: He looked like a rising star on the dirt late last year, but missed the Kentucky Derby trail. He returned on the lawn this year, winning a first-level allowance second off the lay and even getting a stakes placing in that first start off the bench. But, after a flat outing at Kentucky Downs, he goes back to the dirt. He has good back dirt form, his tactical speed is a plus, and unlike many in this field he is still lightly enough raced to have some upside. On the other hand, he’ll have to improve in his first start against older horses, which is always a lot to ask. In short, demand a price.
7. Forged Steel: he came out of nowhere to win the Gold Cup (G2) at Santa Anita in May, but has been well beaten in each of his last two starts. His form reads as one-way speed, so if he makes the top or is pressing the early pace, he has a chance to hang around. If he doesn’t, however, he’ll be nowhere. It’s not a bad thing to see Edwin Gonzalez riding – he actually won with Forged Steel earlier this year when he survived a speed duel and ran on. But, that was against allowance company … and these are, while not a vintage Grade 1 field, a tougher group than he beat in the Gold Cup this year.
8. Caldera: He started his career with D. Wayne Lukas, but in his three starts since taking a yearlong lay and moving to the Saffie Joseph, Jr. barn, he has gotten things back on track. In his last three starts, he has clicked off three straight allowance conditions. The question is how he will return to two turns – all three of those wins have come in one-turn miles. He did graduate over two turns and finish a good second in a stakes at 1 ⅛ miles last year, so it’s possible. And, he has a nice draw outside the other speed, meaning he should be able to work a stalking trip.
9. Nevada Beach: He hasn’t raced since a troubled beginning and a no-show effort in the Saudi Cup, and he’s going right back into a repeat attempt in this race. Lucky for him, the field turned up weak, and if he comes back his regular self, he looms as the horse to beat. He has never been laid off this long before, so that’s a question, though the fact that he fired on debut is a positive, as is the fact that he has been working regularly throughout the summer. He also has a proven ability to stalk the pace, and to run well going 1 ⅛ miles.

Goodwood Stakes: 3 Best Bets for this Breeders’ Cup Classic prep

These are the three best bets in the 2026 Goodwood Stakes:

1. Caldera (5-1)

This is a class test for Caldera, but it’s the right time to do it. He hasn’t set a hoof wrong in three starts this year, clicking off three allowance conditions in succession. He has shown his versatility, winning three back in the front end and then winning his last two from a stalk-and-pounce style, the kind of trip that always plays well at Santa Anita, especially with some others in the field who can show speed. And, though this is a class test, he has some stakes-level form earlier in his career, something that suggests he has some class to tap into.

The biggest question is the stretch out to 1 ⅛ miles, since all three of his races this year have had him going a one-turn mile. However, he ran a good second, even with a bit of trouble, in his only start at the distance, which came in the Bathhouse Row Stakes at Oaklawn last year. He has other good two-turn form from last year as well: he broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn last year and was just nosed out in the Sunland Derby at the same distance. After three starts this year, he should be fit, and he has the most upside of any of the newer faces here.

2. Original Sin (6-1)

Last out, he didn’t start well, but he adapted nicely to close from the clouds, and the only horse he couldn’t run down was Knightsbridge, a bona fide monster who did the dirty work up front and still ran on to win by 6 ¼ lengths. He won’t be running into any horse like Knightsbridge here. Once again, though, he should have a perfectly lively pace unfolding in front of him. If he starts better, he won’t even be as far back as he was last out.

It’s also a positive that he has the pace versatility to work a trip under strong local rider Kazushi Kimura. Undefeated in two starts at 1 ⅛ miles, Original Sin won the Blame (G3) from a stalking spot in May, but closed from last to win an allowance at the same distance at Keeneland one start earlier. Those options should serve him well depending on early-race strategy and how the track may be playing Saturday, and he shapes as a horse with a good chance for a breakthrough effort.

3. Nevada Beach (7-5)

Nevada Beach won this race last year, so he is at least proven over the course and distance. It’s hard to know what he is now, since he hasn’t run since Saudi Arabia. However, trainer Bob Baffert excels at bringing horses back sharp after long layoffs, meaning he should be in good form. And, this race drew weakly enough that his usual day at the office makes him a contender here; his Saudi Cup was a flop, but other than that and perhaps his Breeders’ Cup Classic outing at 1 ¼ miles, his other races are good enough to make him a serious contender.

He should be able to handle his post well, too. He drew the far outside, but it’s just a field of nine. And, given his usual pressing or stalking style, he’ll be just fine letting the speed inside of him go, taking advantage of that clean tracking trip, and then making a run into the lane. It’s a perfectly good trip in a dirt route at Santa Anita, and one that the flow of this race should make possible. The price won’t be big, but he’s the class of the field, and he runs consistently well if he’s home in California and running at the right level.

Goodwood Stakes FAQ

Q: When and where is the Goodwood Stakes?

A: The Goodwood Stakes happens on Saturday, September 26 at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time at Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, California. It is scheduled as the eighth race of 10 on the card.

Q: Which trainer has the most wins in the Goodwood Stakes?

A: Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won this race nine times between 1998 and 2025. He has two chances to make it a round 10 wins with Nevada Beach and Taif.

Q: Who is the favorite for the Goodwood Stakes?

A: The 7-5 morning-line favorite is Nevada Beach. Though he hasn’t raced since February, most of the field comes in with either hit-or-miss form or a lack of experience, and Nevada Beach at least won this race last year. Based on that, as well as the general tendency of Bob Baffert horses to get bet, Nevada Beach is likely to hold as a well-defined favorite.

Q: Who is the best Goodwood Stakes jockey?

A: Gary Stevens leads all jockeys with five wins in the Goodwood Stakes between 1998 and 2013. However, he is retired. Kent Desormeaux, a four-time winner of this race, can tie Stevens’ mark if he rides Vodka Vodka to an upset victory this year.

Q: Who won the Goodwood Stakes in 2025?

A: Nevada Beach won the 2025 Goodwood Stakes for trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith. Baffert comes back with Nevada Beach, but Juan Hernandez takes the riding call. Baffert also entered Taif, who will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.