Santa Anita Barn Notes III: Full Serrano, First Mission Tangle in Saturday's G1 Goodwood

From the Santa Anita Media Team:

FULL SERRANO, EASTERN INVADER FIRST MISSION TAKE ON BAFFERT TRIO IN GI GOODWOOD STAKES GOING 1 1/8 MILES SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

Winner receives an automatic berth to the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic

ARCADIA, CA (Sept. 22, 2025)—Reigning Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano, eastern invader First Mission and a trio of contenders for trainer Bob Baffert will battle for Grade I glory and a coveted berth in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic when they go postward as part of a field of seven set for Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita.

Full Serrano, trained by John Sadler for owner Hronis Racing, will be making just his second start since upsetting last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar. On Sept.1 at Del Mar, Full Serrano finally returned after a 10-month layoff and promptly aired by 7 ¼ lengths in a high-level allowance going a mile. Jockey Juan Hernandez rode Full Serrano for the first time in impressive comeback effort and again has the call on Saturday.

Bred in Argentina, Full Serrano began his career in his native country before being imported last year. He won his first U.S. start in August before finishing a close-up second in the GI Pacific Classic, both at Del Mar. Sadler had then planned to run Full Serrano in this race, then known as the California Crown, with an eye towards the Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1 ¼ miles. But illness forced Full Serrano to miss vital training time and for Sadler to ultimately opt for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

A 6-year-old horse by Full Mast, Full Serrano has an overall record of 18:7-5-2 with $846,423 in earnings.

First Mission comes west for trainer Brad Cox and owner-breeder Godolphin. Eastern-based jockey Paco Lopez will also be in town to ride. A 5-year-old horse by Street Sense, First Mission has a record of 14: 6-3-2 with more than $2.2 million in earnings. In three starts this year, First Mission won the GII Oaklawn Handicap in April, also at 1 1/8 miles; was third in the GI Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs in June; and most recently, was second by three-quarters of a length in the GIII Philip I. Iselin going 1 1/16 miles at Monmouth Park on Aug. 16. Baffert’s entrants are Gaming, Privman and Nevada Beach.

Gaming, runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, earned his only win of the year in June in the 1 1/16-mile Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita. Most recently, the 3-year-old colt by Game Winner was a well-beaten third behind stablemate Citizen Bull in the one-mile Shared Belief Stakes on Aug. 31 at Del Mar. Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Gaming is 9: 3-2-3 with $786,000 in earnings. He’ll have Hall of Famer Mike Smith aboard.

Privman, a 3-year-old colt by Justify, will be making his stakes debut for Baffert and owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et al. After losing his first three starts, all sprinting, Privman earned his diploma when stretched out to a mile on July 20 at Del Mar. He came right back at Del Mar to win a first-level allowance at a mile on Aug. 9. Privman will have Antonio Fresu aboard for the first time being ridden by Hernandez in both victories.

Nevada Beach finished second to Gaming in the Affirmed but then came right back 20 days to score in the Los Alamitos Derby on June 28. That was the third and most recent start for the 3-year-old colt by Omaha Beach, Like Gaming, Nevada Beach is also owned by Pegram, Watson and Weitman. He’ll be ridden by Kyle Frey for the first time.

Rounding out the lineup are Express Train and Ultimate Gamble.

Express Train, trained by John Shirreffs for owner C R K Racing, will be stretching back out in distance after finishing an encouraging third in the GII Pat O’Brien going seven furlongs Aug. 23 at Del Mar. The 8-year-old horse by Union Rags is seeking his first win since the 2022 GI Santa Anita Handicap. Express Train, who has a record of 27-7-7-6 with $1,639,800 in earnings, will be ridden by Hector Berrios.

Ultimate Gamble most recently was a well-beaten third behind standout winner Fierceness in the GI Pacific Classic going 1 ¼ miles Aug. 30 at Del Mar. It was the stakes debut for the 5-year-old horse by Medaglia d’Oro. Trained by Mark Glatt for owner Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, Ultimate Gamble is 10: 3-1-2 with $275,840 in earnings. He’ll be ridden by Kazushi Kimura, who was also aboard for the Pacific Classic.

__THE GI GOODWOOD WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER __

Race 9 of 10 – Approximate post time 5 p.m. PT