Nafisa Dominates La Cañada in First Stakes Try, Baffert's Sixth

Nafisa put the Grade 3 La Cañada Stakes on ice, powering to a 4 3/4-length victory in her first stakes attempt at Santa Anita on Jan. 24, 2026. The 5-year-old Quality Road mare ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.77 after a measured trip, giving trainer Bob Baffert his sixth La Cañada triumph and extending her streak to three straight wins on dirt.

Ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Nafisa stalked from just off the pace behind stablemate Brilliantly through the opening stages. She moved decisively past Brilliantly on the second turn, cruised through six furlongs in 1:11.47 and drew clear in the stretch to finish strongly on the Santa Anita main track. Brilliantly’s early role as target set up Nafisa’s patient trip and allowed Kimura to angle for running room when the move developed.

The victory capped a notable run of improvement for Nafisa. After a prolonged maiden-breaking sequence early in her career, she has matured into a dependable dirt performer, now with three consecutive victories. Bred by Mt. Brilliant Farm and W.S. Farish and purchased as a yearling for $1.8 million, Nafisa’s stakes breakthrough carries immediate business implications for connections. A Grade 3 score enhances her broodmare resume and helps justify a high yearling valuation by demonstrating performance at stakes level.

For Baffert, the La Cañada win is another marker of sustained success at Santa Anita and in division-level races. Securing a sixth victory in the same stakes underlines his ability to keep top mares ready for winter targets and to extract tactical speed and stamina from horses like Nafisa who can stalk then finish. Kazushi Kimura’s handling, tracking the pace and timing the move on the second turn, provided the execution that matched the mare’s turning point.

From an industry perspective, Nafisa’s pattern, expensive yearling purchase, slow start, then a string of dirt wins culminating in a stakes score, highlights the long game for high-end bloodstock. Owners and breeders see tangible returns when a pricey yearling converts potential into graded success, and the La Cañada result will influence mating plans, sales listings and future entries for Nafisa.

Nafisa’s next steps will be watched by bettors and breeders alike; a Grade 3 victory at 1 1/16 miles positions her for tougher midwinter and spring opportunities and raises expectations for where she might target next on the Southern California stakes calendar.