Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is gearing up for the Breeders’ Cup, and his main juvenile contender, Brant, is central to his game plan. The two-year-old colt from Zedan Racing Stables is starting to shine. He snagged a win in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on September 7, and guess what? That makes it a record 19 wins for Baffert in that race!

Baffert’s $3 million horse showed off some serious speed and grace in the seven-furlong race, clocking an opening quarter-mile in :21.88 and fending off a strong challenge from his stablemate, Desert Gate, to take the win with a final time of 1:21.92. Brant’s performance really cemented his place as a top contender for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. It also showcased just how strong Baffert’s barn is as he prepares for the big championship event in racing.

Baffert’s got a confirmed qualifier, but he’s still got some big decisions to make, especially when it comes to Brant’s final prep. As reported by @sdhorserace on X, “Brant worked 5-furlongs in 59.8 at Santa Anita Park Saturday for trainer Bob Baffert. 60/89. The G1 Del Mar Futurity winner may go next in the G1 American Pharoah on October 4th or train-up to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on October 31st.”

This solid five-furlong workout highlights the colt’s great shape and gives Baffert two clear options to consider. The first is a quick turnaround into the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park on October 4, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile that offers both a guaranteed berth and valuable points on the Road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby. Another option is to skip that race and focus on training Brant directly for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on October 31.

This approach would give him more time to train, but it means he wouldn’t get as much experience racing against the best competition. So, besides having a horse for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, there’s another event that one of his colts has qualified for.

Bob Baffert’s horses are crushing the competition

Remember when Bob Baffert mentioned Nevada Beach’s future? He said, “I was going to take him to Parx, but I wasn’t happy with his breeze. But he’s come back and breezed well.” Looks like the strategy really worked out. The colt just cruised to a 1 1/2 lengths win over Full Serrano. After the win, you could really feel the pride of the Hall of Fame trainer. He mentioned, “We have always been really high on this horse. I always thought he had this in him.”

For sure, Baffert really believed in Nevada, which is why he ultimately chose to enter the horse in that $300,000 race. This is so much more than just a win. Nevada Beach also secured a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Talking about the race, the trainer further added, “This one is really special. I really appreciate wins like this when you don’t expect them.”

It’s definitely a good weekend for Bob Baffert, isn’t it? He faced quite a few challenges in the early part of the year, struggling to get a win in any of the Triple Crown events. But he bounced back really well at the Del Mar summer meet, and since then, he hasn’t held back at all. We’ll just have to wait and see if his horses can do even better at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.