Intrepido earned his way into the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA by defeating a quartet of Bob Baffert runners in the Grade 1 $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes presented by DK Horse Oct. 4 at Santa Anita Park under jockey Hector Berrios.

Owners Ruben Islas and Michele Arthur won't have to travel far when their 2-year-old competes in the Breeders' Cup since they both live in San Diego near the Breeders' Cup host track, Del Mar.

"This is so exciting. That horse is special," Islas said. "Hector had to pull him back three times. He was getting jammed up. Then to be able to finish like that against this quality of horses."

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Baffert appeared to have the race surrounded with four of the six horses in the field, and all of them were legitimate contenders. Desert Gate, an 8 3/4-length winner of the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar, was the logical favorite and went off at odds of 9-10. Intrepido was the fourth choice behind second-choice Kristofferson and third-choice Plutarch - both from the Baffert barn.

Trainer Jeff Mullins was concerned that if Intrepido tried to take the lead in the American Pharoah, he would be "in a dogfight," the one thing the trainer said he wanted to avoid.

"I just asked Hector, 'Do you think this horse can rate?' He said no problem," Mullins said.

Desert Gate, ridden by Juan Hernandez, was the danger on the lead and did indeed forge to the front early in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah Stakes as Kristofferson went with him through a first quarter mile in :22.83.

"It was a bit of a complicated race at the start," Berrios said. "I tried to go to the front, but I saw Juan break first, so I settled into second. From the first turn, I had to ease back a little."

It took until the stretch before Intrepido could find clear room to launch a rally.

"When I made my move to the outside, he responded, although not very strongly at first," Berrios said. "But when I asked him again, he responded and produced an impressive change of pace and flew down the final stretch."

Desert Gate, after battling with Kristofferson, had to contend with Plutarch in the stretch. Intrepido timed his move perfectly from the outside, catching those two late and scoring by three-quarters of a length in 1:43.67. Desert Gate held on for second by a nose over Plutarch in third. Kristofferson faded to last.

Intrepido paid $19.60 to win.

Not only did Intrepido earn a "Win and You're In" fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, the American Pharoah was also a part of the Road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve and he also earned 10 points toward next year's run for the roses.

Tamara Returns Victorious in Chillingworth Stakes

Tamara all alone. (Eclipse Sportswire)

One race before the American Pharoah, distaff sprinters met in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes. Tamara, the 2-5 favorite and a daughter of Hall of Famer Beholder, won the race by 3 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:15.21. Runner-up Silent Law finished 14 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Ang N Ash.

Mike Smith piloted Tamara for trainer Richard Mandella and owner Spendthrift Farm. Tamara, a 4-year-old sired by Bolt d'Oro, was making her first start after being away from the races since November 2024.

"I had her ready to run in the La Brea opening day (Dec. 26)," Mandella said. "She kicked the rail at the training track coming off the track and chipped a sesamoid. She looked pretty good today."

Mandella said that he will point Tamara for the PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint if all goes well.

Mission of Joy Upsets in Rodeo Drive to Secure Breeders' Cup Berth

Mission of Joy earned her first stakes win since joining the barn of trainer Phil D'Amato by taking the Grade 2 $200,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes Oct. 4 at Santa Anita.

Mission of Joy. (Eclipse Sportswire)

The victory gives Mission of Joy an automatic Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win and You're In" berth into the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Sixth during most of the 1 1/4-mile Rodeo Drive under jockey Umberto Rispoli, Mission of Joy came on late to defeat Speed Shopper by a head in 2:00.03. Starry Heavens, also trained by D'Amato, finished third. Mission of Joy paid $25.80 to win.

"I think she definitely needs to be ridden in that European style, just kind of getting covered up," D'Amato said. "Just timing the run just right and getting her to the outside. I thought Umberto did a fantastic job of getting that achieved today."

Rispoli added, "She prefers to come around horses instead of going through small gaps, and she responded beautifully today."

Explora Scores Blow-Out Oak Leaf Win

Baffert lost the American Pharoah Stakes but did come away with a major 2-year-old victory later on the card when his filly Explora captured the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association as the 2-5 favorite. Explora earned a "Win and You're In" berth into next month's NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.

Explora. (Eclipse Sportswire)

After Explora finished second to Baffert-trained Bottle of Rouge in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Stakes on Sept. 6, Baffert decided to take the blinkers off, and it worked. In the Oak Leaf, Explora rated in third down the backstretch for jockey Juan Hernandez behind the early pace of Baffert-trained Himika. Explora moved up on the outside in the second turn and took over to pull away for a 4 1/4-length victory in 1:44.13. La Wally finished second with La Ville Lumiere in third.

"I was trying to get her relaxed because she got too keen at Del Mar," Baffert said. "She came back, and Juan's been working her just nice and relaxed. You don't know if it's going to work until you see it. When I saw her on the backside, I thought, 'I hope she's relaxing,' she's either relaxing or she's not running."

When Explora came to the quarter pole, she emphatically answered that question for Baffert, drawing off to win by a margin of 4 1/4 lengths.