With the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar drawing ever closer, Tom Pedulla offers takeaways from five Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series races from this weekend that will help shape the talent-laden fields at the season-culminating event.

Nevada Beach winning Goodwood Stakes. (Eclipse Sportswire)

SURPRISE, SURPRISE: Bettors sent off Full Serrano as a heavy favorite in the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita Park and understandably so. He is, after all, defending champion in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. But lightly raced 3-year-old Nevada Beach responded to his first graded-stakes opportunity with a 1 ½-length score over Full Serrano to secure a berth in the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 1. The Omaha Beach colt, owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, made it 3-for-4 this season and appears to be peaking at the ideal time for delighted Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. “This one is really special because sometimes you have them over a barrel. I really appreciate a win like this when it’s not expected,” he said.

NO SURPRISE: Trainer Michael Campbell possesses a world of experience at age 75 and knows every member of his 10-horse stable well. When George Mellon’s Patriot Spirit rolled by four lengths and picked up black type in the Reigh Count Stakes on July 26 at Colonial Downs, he knew the next move needed to be the Grade 3 Vosburgh Stakes presented by Army Mule. He took the 4-year-old Constitution colt to Aqueduct with a high degree of confidence that was justified Saturday with a 1 ½-length decision against onrushing Crazy Mason. “I expected the effort,” Campbell said. “I don’t want to sound pompous or anything because it is difficult to win a horse race. There is nothing more difficult. On this occasion, in this spot, with this horse being that right, I didn’t think he could get beat.” Patriot Spirit, ridden by to Javier Castellano, earned a fees-paid berth in the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

QUICK RECOVERY: Speedway Stables’ Cavalieri was understandably revved up as she made her first start since March 8 in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita. She hopped at the start but settled down after that for a 1 ¾-length decision against stablemate Richi. She will go on to the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distafff\ with a fees-paid slot. While she made it an adventure for jockey Juan Hernandez, the 4-year-old Into Mischief filly remained perfect through five starts. “She was acting up. She was nervous,” Hernandez said. “It had been a while since she had run, so she was excited. Even in the post parade, she was dancing a little bit. In the gate she moved a little bit, then she was OK. But then she moved when they opened the gate. It caused her to miss the break, but she recovered in three jumps and she recovered really well.”  

Imagination winning Santa Anita Sprint Championship. (Eclipse Sportswire)

ROUSING COMEBACK: Most horses do not run superb races when they are coming off a layoff that has endured since Jan. 25. Clearly, Imagination is not any horse and, as everyone knows, Bob Baffert is not any trainer. The 4-year-old Into Mischief colt unleashed a staunch rally under Juan Hernandez to overtake Straight No Chaser in deep stretch and win the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes Presented by Estrella Jalisco on Sunday by 1 ¾ lengths. He earned a fees-paid berth in the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint and looms a threat there since Straight No Chaser is the defending champion. Baffert made a last-minute decision to run Imagination in the Santa Anita Sprint and was so gratified that he did. “This will set him up,” the trainer said. “He’s always been a good horse. He’s a little quirky, but that is his thing.”

BACK FOR MORE: Johannes, second in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF last year, earned a fees-paid berth to take another shot at that event by winning the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile Stakes Saturday. The 5-year-old son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist prevailed by 1 ¼ lengths for jockey Umberto Rispoli to remain perfect through eight turf starts at Santa Anita. He won for the ninth time in 15 starts overall. Trainer Tim Yakteen believes the prep will serve as a great springboard to the $2 million Mile. “Five weeks is great timing,” Yakteen said. “We’ll do a couple of maintenance drills and one other work, and we’ll be ready to go. This horse is a trainer’s dream.”