Gaming tops Nevada Beach for Baffert exacta in $100,000 Affirmed S.

Gaming held off Nevada Beach by 1 ¾-lengths to win Sunday’s Affirmed S. at Santa Anita Park, giving Bob Baffert a record eighth win in the race named after the 1978 Triple Crown winner.

Both 3-year-olds are owned by Baffert’s long-time clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.

Gaming, the winner of last year’s Del Mar Futurity (G1), was seeking his first victory since that race. He went right to the lead at the start and steadily maintained a one-length lead over Rank through six furlongs. Turning for home, Nevada Beach made a move for the lead along the inside, but Gaming shrugged him off and pulled away at the end for a convincing win.

“I don’t know what it would be like not to have horses with [Bob Baffert], said Watson. “I have never been with anybody else, but he is great–he makes it fun. I’ve been with Paul and Mike for 20 years, I don’t know how long exactly, and we have always been with Bob. Bob takes care of us and every now and then we get lucky.”

Gaming improved his record to 3-2-2 in eight starts, with earnings of $771,000.