Intrepido Thwarts Baffert Quartet in American Pharoah

Ruben Islas and Michele Arthur won't have to travel far when their 2-year-old Intrepido competes in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) since they both live in San Diego, just south of Del Mar. With Hector Berrios up, Intrepido earned his way into the Juvenile by defeating a phalanx of Bob Baffert runners in the Oct. 4 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. "This is so exciting—that horse is special," Islas said. "Hector had to pull him back three times. He was getting jammed up. Then to be able to finish like that against this quality of horses." Baffert appeared to have the race surrounded, with four of the six horses, all legitimate contenders. Desert Gate, an 8 3/4-length winner of the Best Pal Stakes (G3) at Del Mar, was the logical favorite and went off at 4-5. Intrepido was the fourth choice behind second-choice Kristofferson and third-choice Plutarch, both also from the Baffert barn. Intrepido had already encountered plenty of Baffert runners in his two previous outings. He finished fourth against the brilliant Baffert trainee Brant in a July 26 maiden race, with American Pharoah entrants Civil Liberty and Baffert-trained Balboa second and third. Then he defeated Plutarch when breaking his maiden Aug. 23, while leading most of the way. Trainer Jeff Mullins was concerned that if Intrepido tried to take the lead in the American Pharoah, he would be "in a dogfight," the one thing the trainer said he wanted to avoid. "We weren't quite sure what was in his head this time around," Mullins said. "I just asked Hector, 'Do you think this horse can rate?' He said no problem." Desert Gate, ridden by Juan Hernandez, was the danger on the lead, and that son of Omaha Beach did indeed forge to the front early in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah. Kristofferson went with him through a first quarter-mile in :22.83. "It was a bit of a complicated race at the start," Berrios said. "I tried to go to the front, but I saw Juan break first so I settled into second. From the first turn, I had to ease back a little. And again around 600 meters I had to hold." It took until the stretch before Intrepido could find clear room to launch a rally. "When I made my move to the outside, he responded, although not very strongly at first," Berrios said. "But when I asked him again, he responded and produced an impressive change of pace and flew down the final stretch." Desert Gate, after battling with Kristofferson, had to contend with Plutarch in the stretch. Intrepido timed his move perfectly from the outside, catching those two late and scoring by three-quarters of a length in 1:43.67 on the fast track. Desert Gate finished second by a nose over Plutarch. Not only did Intrepido earn a fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, the first five earned points toward next year's Kentucky Derby (G1). Intrepido earned 10, followed by Desert Gate (five), Plutarch (three), Civil Liberty (two), and Balboa (one). Islas and Arthur have an exciting fall season in front of them. Islas, along with Arthur's husband Jules, are business partners in the film industry. Islas said he has directed a movie called "Final Vow" that is set for release Nov. 21 "It's about human trafficking, a very important topic," Islas said. "It will be in movie theaters and on all the platforms." Prior to that, of course, they hope to see Intrepido compete in the Breeders' Cup. He races in the names of Dutch Girl Holdings (Michele Arthur) and Irving Ventures (Islas). They own several other horses, including Queen Maxima, who set a course record when winning the May 2 Unbridled Sidney Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs. Islas said bloodstock agent and former trainer Mike Pender selects all their horses. He found Intrepido at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, with Dutch Girl and Irving Ventures successfully bidding $385,000. Sierra Fria Farm bred Intrepido in Kentucky from the Pleasantly Perfect mare Overly Indulgent. Intrepido, Raging Torrent, Ms. Tart, and Irish Maxima are 2025 graded stakes winners sired by Maximus Mischief. Winner of the 2018 Remsen Stakes (G2), Maximus Mischief stood for a 2025 stud fee of $15,000 at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington. BAFFERT WINS OAK LEAF WITH EXPLORA Baffert did come away with a major 2-year-old victory on the card when 2-5 favorite Explora captured the 1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf Stakes (G2). Racing for the same ownership as Desert Gate—Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman—Explora earned a "Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) with the effort. After Explora finished second to Baffert-trained Bottle of Rouge in the Sept. 6 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1), Baffert decided to take the blinkers off, and it worked. In the Oak Leaf, Explora rated in third down the backstretch for jockey Juan Hernandez behind the early pace of Baffert-trained Himika. Explora moved up on the outside in the second turn and took over to pull away for a 4 1/4-length victory in 1:44.13 over La Wally, with La Ville Lumiere third. "I was trying to get her relaxed because she got too keen at Del Mar," Baffert said. "She came back, and Juan's been working her just nice and relaxed. You don't know if it's going to work until you see it. When I saw her on the backside, I thought, 'I hope she's relaxing'—she's either relaxing or she's not running." When Explora came to the quarter pole, she emphatically answered that question for Baffert. Pegram, Watson, and Weitman all witnessed the Oak Leaf in person. They buy horses in the name of Three Amigos, getting Explora for $350,000 at the 2025 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Old in Training Sale. Baffert's success over his many years training for Pegram includes Silverbulletday, the 1998 champion 2-year-old filly and 1999 champion 3-year-old filly and a member of the Hall of Fame. Mesingw Farm bred Explora in Kentucky. She is a daughter of Blame—Collections Choice, by Bernardini. Explora joins Sibayan (Fr) and Epic Ride as 2025 graded stakes winners by Blame, who stood for a 2025 stud fee of $25,000 at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky. Tamara Returns Victorious in Chillingworth One race before the American Pharoah, distaff sprinters met in the 6 1/2-furlong Chillingworth Stakes (G3). Tamara, the 2-5 favorite and a filly out of Hall of Famer Beholder, prompted the pace of Silent Law before taking over and beating that rival by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:15.21. Silent Law finished 14 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Ang N Ash. Mike Smith piloted Tamara for trainer Richard Mandella and owner Spendthrift Farm. Tamara, a 4-year-old by Bolt d'Oro, was making her first start after being away from the races since November 2024. "I had her ready to run in the La Brea opening day (Dec. 26)," Mandella said. "She kicked the rail at the training track coming off the track and chipped a sesamoid. She looked pretty good today." Mandella will point Tamara for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) if all goes well. Beholder, a four-time champion, won the 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and two editions of the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Mission of Joy Gets First California Stakes Win Mission of Joy, who won the 2023 Regret Stakes (G3T) when trained by Graham Motion, earned her first stakes victory for Phil D'Amato in the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2T). The race also gives her a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T). Sixth during most of the 1 1/4-mile Rodeo Drive under jockey Umberto Rispoli, Mission of Joy came on late to defeat Speed Shopper by a head in 2:00.03. Starry Heavens (Ire), also trained by D'Amato, finished third. "I think she definitely needs to be ridden in that European style, just kind of getting covered up," D'Amato said. "Just timing the run just right and getting her to the outside—I thought Umberto did a fantastic job of getting that achieved today." Rispoli added, "She prefers to come around horses instead of going through small gaps, and she responded beautifully today." RyZan Sun Racing and Madaket Stables own Mission of Joy, and Sam-Son Farm bred her in Ontario. This was Mission of Joy's third start for D'Amato. She is a 5-year-old daughter of Kitten's Joy—Smart Mission, by Smart Strike.