Since Bob Baffert’s much-anticipated return to the Kentucky Derby on May 3, he managed only a 15th-place finish. In the next leg of the Triple Crown, he showed marked improvement. But still missed the podium with a fourth-place effort. That same result followed at the Belmont Stakes, where Bob Baffert’s pupil once again had to settle for fourth. Despite these repeated near-misses, the veteran trainer refused to throw in the towel. Instead, Bob unleashed a dominant run at Del Mar in the following races.

On Sunday, Juan Hernandez guided another Baffert charge, Himika, to a decisive 4 1⁄4-length victory over Mo’ Em Down (ridden by Umberto Rispoli) in the Grade III Sorrento Stakes. The win marked the fifth time in just three days that Hernandez had piloted a 2-year-old from Baffert’s barn to victory at Del Mar. It’s little wonder, then, that at 72 years old, Baffert is not just competing. But he’s leading the pack and rewriting the summer meet’s storyline. He recently also engraved his name on Jim Dandy on July 26, where Nysos and Brant showcased tremendous strength.

That’s why the recent reports suggest that the 72-year-old Hall of Famer is looking up at the September 7 run amid Goal Oriented’s Travers Stakes upset. We will dive deep into Goal Oriented and his miss on the Travers Stakes later. But now, let’s see what The Eclipse Sportwire reported on August 13.

Talking about Baffert’s future races, the insider said, “Runaway winner of the Best Pal Stakes, a step up in competition, could be next for Desert Gate as trainer Bob Baffert eyes the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on September 7th for the flashy son of Omaha Beach.” Desert Gate lived up to the hype at Del Mar on Saturday, turning the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes into a one-horse show.

Backed heavily at 1/5, Desert Gate kept pace up front through the early fractions, and then left his rivals behind with ease in the stretch. A $260,000 Omaha Beach purchase from a Florida 2-year-old sale in March, Desert Gate stopped the clock at 1:10.37 for six furlongs on Saturday. With Juan Hernandez, his star jockey, in the irons, the win marked Bob Baffert’s 12th triumph in the 55-year history of this Grade III test for juveniles.

Per Del Mar TC, Desert Gate returned $2.40 for $2 to his backers in the weekend gathering.

And talking about Desert Gate, Bob said Saturday, “This horse has been very professional since day one. His maiden race was really exceptional.” He paid the minimum $2.10 to place, and there was no show betting allowed in the short field. So, Bob is nothing but hopeful to start the Del Mar Futurity on September 7, 2025, with Desert Gate. 

But while he is keeping an eye on another Del Mar race, Bob Baffert’s star horse, Goal Oriented, is reportedly not going to compete at the Travers Cup. 

Goal Oriented skips Travers, sets sights on Pennsylvania Derby glory

On August 13, 2025, ‘Paulick Report’ reported that trainer Bob Baffert has confirmed Goal Oriented will skip next weekend’s Grade 1 Travers Stakes. The Haskell third-place finisher is now set to target the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20. The move gives the colt extra time to rest and fine-tune his preparation, keeping him on track for a strong late-season performance.

Talking about Goal Oriented with Daily Racing Form, Baffert said, “I think he needs a little bit more time. I don’t think he’s ready for that. He ran hard [in the Haskell]. He’s a really big horse, and I don’t want to run him too much. I want him for next year.” The son of Not This Time boasts a record of two wins from four career starts.

He faced a tough trip in the Preakness Stakes, where he was bumped and steadied on the home turn, ultimately finishing fourth. Despite the setback, the promising colt continues to show steady progress and resilience in top-level competition.

Now, with Goal Oriented withdrawing, the field for next weekend’s Grade 1 Travers Stakes has narrowed to three confirmed runners: Sovereignty, Magnitude, and Strategic Focus. According to the Daily Racing Form, Bracket Buster and McAfee remain possible starters. And the smaller field could set the stage for an intense showdown among the remaining contenders.