There’s something about summer at Del Mar that brings out the best in Bob Baffert. Maybe it’s the ocean breeze, maybe it’s the magic of the seaside oval but when the pressure’s on, the Hall of Famer always seems to deliver. After a few tough seasons marked by scrutiny and setbacks, including a lengthy suspension and lackluster Derby runs, Baffert showed up at Del Mar this weekend. And his horses speak for him. With all eyes on his newest rising stars, Baffert delivered a performance that was part redemption, part dominance, and all Bob. Could this be his strongest crop in years?

The standout of the weekend was a colt named Brant, and if the $3 million price tag wasn’t enough to turn heads, his maiden win surely was. Purchased at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale earlier this year, a record-setting buy for the company, Brant came into Saturday carrying the weight of hype. But he didn’t just meet expectations; he blew them away. On FanDuel TV, analyst Dubbs Anderson summed it up best in a fired-up segment with Caleb Keller: “Bob Baffert  turns what we saw from Brant going big over the weekend..talked about this horse for months… $3 million, very rare, crave by Gun Runner pulls away, did it so nicely.”

Anderson was almost in disbelief over the Beyer Speed Figure. “This horse is going to join a very small, select group of horses that won with 100+ Beyer on debut.” (Other debut triple‑digit Beyer earners include Formal Gold—112 Beyer in his 1990 debut—and Flightline—105 Beyer in his 2021 debut.) He further noted that Brant now joins an elite group of horses, including Justify, who’ve posted a 100+ Beyer on debut. In less than a minute, Brant went from prospect to “Breeders’ Cup Juvenile favorite.” Could this be the next superstar out of the Baffert barn? And the fireworks didn’t stop there.

Just a couple of hours after Brant’s debut, Nysos, another Baffert-trained runner, put on a show of his own. But it was Brant who generated the biggest buzz. Anderson emphasized just how rare this kind of debut really is: “That horse is now basically the big clear favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.” That kind of praise doesn’t come easy, especially from analysts who’ve seen hype horses come and go. But Brant’s performance wasn’t flashy for the sake of it; it was polished, powerful, and precise. With a pedigree that screams potential and a debut that lived up to the billing, the colt may be Bob Baffert’s most exciting 2-year-old in years. And it seems Baffert himself has plenty to say about that.

A trio of Bob Baffert horses nailed it at Del Mar

When Bob Baffert signed off on a $3 million colt back in March at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale, he might not have imagined just how things would click a few months later. Brant had shown speed at the sale, clocking 9.6 seconds for a furlong, but talent isn’t always ready talent. Baffert brought him along patiently, shifting him from Los Alamitos to Santa Anita in late April. But then he focused on teaching him to settle. “Sometimes you can’t get the speed out of their mind,” Baffert explained. Then came Brant’s debut at Del Mar on Saturday. He sat just off the early pace, calm and composed. And pulled away to a dominant 5 1/4-length victory.

The performance was polished. The buzz around Brant was loud and immediate. His 101 Beyer Speed Figure put him in the elite company of 2-year-olds this decade to post triple-digit numbers on debut.  A group that includes five trained by Baffert himself, like Cave Rock, Prince of Monaco, Hejazi, and Speed Boat Beach. Now, Brant looks like the horse to beat in the $300,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on September 7—a race Baffert has already won a record 18 times. But Baffert’s weekend didn’t stop there. Hejazi, Baffert’s seasoned colt, was back after a 16-month layoff. In just his second start of the year, he nearly stole the $402,000 Bing Crosby Stakes. He set a sharp pace and led by 2½ lengths at the eighth pole. But an 18-1 longshot closed late, and Hejazi held for a game second.

Despite not having many wins in 11 career starts, Bob Baffert was pleased. As he puts it, “He ran great,” he said. He further made it clear Hejazi is on a path to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint this November. Then came Nysos. Baffert’s 4-year-old, Nysos, made his first start at 1 1/16 miles. He hugged the rail, rallied late, and powered home under Flavien Prat. The result? A 2 3/4-length win in the San Diego Handicap. And a sharp 102 Beyer Speed Figure to go with it. “He’s got a great mind,” Baffert said. “You could ride him in the Rose Bowl Parade.” That win has Nysos headed to the $1 million Pacific Classic on August 30. But wait! That will double his win. From 2-year-old brilliance to older-horse poise, Baffert’s barn looks locked and loaded for a massive fall campaign.