Nevada Beach tops Baffert exacta in Los Alamitos Derby

Nevada Beach surged past stablemate Varney with about three furlongs to run in Saturday’s $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby, going on to win the 1 1/8-mile race by 4 ¼-lengths over Varney, who was a dozen lengths clear of third-place finisher Rank.

Nevada Beach is Bob Baffert’s ninth consecutive winner of the Los Al Derby. The race was formerly called the Swaps S. when it was contested at Hollywood Park and was won by Baffert five times at the now-defunct track.

Making just his third lifetime start, Nevada Beach raced just off the flank of Varney, who set fractions of :45.91 and 1:09.66. When he was given his cure, Nevada Beach eased past Varney and after a brief tussle in upper stretch, pulled away readily for an easy win.

“I could tell right away (Nevada Beach) was just bouncing over this surface,” said Baffert. “He got a hold of it immediately. I’ve always liked this surface here. This is where I get my 2-year-olds ready. Those are two really nice horses. When (Nevada Beach) broke his maiden, I remember telling his owners he’s going to run in the Affirmed (at Santa Anita) and win there, then win the Los Alamitos Derby and then go to the Travers. After (stablemate) Gaming beat him in the Affirmed it was kind of disappointing, but Gaming is a good horse and he’s starting to circle back to his best form. This horse just flourished over this track and he was just getting going there at the end.”

Nevada Beach is owned by Baffert’s long-time friends Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. The dark bay son of Omaha Beach is 2-1-0 in three starts and has earned $116,500.