Full Serrano Likely to Defend Title in BC Dirt Mile

Nevada Beach and Full Serrano (ARG), the one-two finishers in the Sept. 27 Goodwood Stakes (G1), were both doing well Sept. 28 and will target the Breeders' Cup Nov. 1 at Del Mar. With Bob Baffert's Nevada Beach earning an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), trainer John Sadler said Full Serrano will "probably" try and defend his title in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) rather than try the added distance of the Breeders' Cup Classic. "(Full Serrano) ran good. We're not hanging our heads," Sadler said. "The other horse ran a big race and beat him." The 6-year-old son of Full Mast was making just his second start this year, after winning an allowance optional claiming race by 7 1/4 lengths at Del Mar Sept. 1. Prior to that, he had been on the bench since his win in last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Full Serrano came to the states last summer from his native Argentina, and has never finished worse than second for Sadler and owner Hronis Racing. He started 14 times in Argentina from 2022-24, with four wins, four seconds, and two thirds. One of those seconds came in group 3 company. He was bred by Stud Haras Gran Muneca S.a., and is out of the Jump Start mare Serra Do Mar.