Full Serrano will face six rivals Saturday in the Goodwood Cup Stakes at Santa Anita

Off a dazzling return, the Argentine star will aim to lock up a spot in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic; coverage in Argentina will be provided by ESPN and Disney+

Full Serrano winning off the layoff at Del Mar / BENOIT PHOTO

ARCADIA, California (Special for Turf Diario).- Full Serrano looks to continue writing his name into the history books of U.S. racing, showcasing his immense talent with victories that will be remembered and fueling big hopes for the future. Off a dazzling comeback a few weeks ago, the Argentine star heads to Santa Anita Park this Saturday for the GI Goodwood Cup S., with a berth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic on the line.

Run at 1 1/8 miles on dirt for a purse of $300,000, the race drew a field of seven and is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series, with the winner earning an automatic berth and entry fees paid to the Classic.

A son of Full Mast bred by Haras Gran Muñeca, Full Serrano already knows what it means to shine on the world’s biggest stage, having stunned the racing world with a front-running victory in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last November.

Just weeks later, injury forced him to the sidelines until late August, when he returned in style at Del Mar with a brilliant wire-to-wire score in a conditional event. Trainer John Sadler now raises the bar with the Hronis Racingrunner, who breezed six furlongs in 1:12 Sunday and looked the part.

Once again partnered by Juan J. Hernández, Full Serrano will take on six rivals, three of them from the barn of Bob Baffert—a factor worth noting, given Hernández is the Hall of Famer’s go-to rider.

Among the opposition is First Mission (Street Sense), representing Godolphin and shipped in from the East Coast by Brad Cox. Out of a daughter of Argentine champion Forty Marchanta (Arg) (Roar), he owns graded wins in the Oaklawn H. (G2), Alysheba S. (G2), Lexington S. (G3), and Essex H. (G3). He has also placed in the Clark S. (G2), Philip H. Iselin S. (G3)—his latest start—and the GI Stephen Foster S.

Veteran Express Train (Union Rags), remembered for his triumph in the 2022 GI Santa Anita H., joins the lineup off a third-place finish in the GII Pat O’Brien S.

The 3-year-old Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) comes in off a score in the Los Alamitos Derby (L) and takes his chance against older horses, while Ultimate Gamble (Medaglia d’Oro) exits a third in the GI Pacific Classic.

Gaming (Gun Runner), winner of the 2024 GI Del Mar Futurity, has since added the Affirmed S. (L), while his stablemate Privman (Justify), like him trained by Baffert, enters off two wins against allowance company.

Full Serrano seeks more glory and another ticket to the Breeders’ Cup—and hopes are sky-high. The race will be broadcast live in Argentina on ESPN and Disney+, with post time to be confirmed.