Goal Oriented

Goal Oriented made his career debut a winning one, closing from off the pace to win a three-quarter-mile sprint April 6, 2025, at Santa Anita Park for Hall of fame trainer Bob Baffert and the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan

Baffert next sent the dark bay or brown Noth This Time colt to Churchill Downs to compete on the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve undercard. Racing on an “off” track for the first time and stretching out to 1 1/16 miles, Goal Oriented led from start to finish under Flavien Prat to prevail by three-quarters of a length. That victory earned Goal Oriented a shot in the Preakness Stakes two weeks later at Pimlico. Subsequently in the Preakness Stakes Mat 17 at Pimlico, Goal Oriented finished fourth behind Journalism, Gosger, and Sandman.

The next appearance for Goal Oriented was his fourth lifetime start in the Grade 1 $1 million NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes on July 19 at Monmouth Park. Goal Oriented battled it out until the very late stages of the stretch in the Haskell but settled for third at the finish, beaten a total of less than a length by Journalism and Gosger, two of the same horses that had beaten him in the Preakness.

Multiple graded stakes winner Bizzy Caroline, by Afleet Alex, is the dam (mother) of Goal Oriented. Bizzy Caroline is a half-sister (same dam, different sire) to champion Lady Eli.