Despite not being in contention for the 2024 trainers’ championship title, Anthony “Baba” Nunes expressed pride and satisfaction with his stable’s performance, which saw it finish yet another second to three-time champion trainer Jason DaCosta.

Nunes, with 57 wins and earnings of $56,254,000, finished second behind DaCosta with 71 wins and earnings of $96,334,675.

“Personally, I thought we did very well,” Nunes reflected. “We didn’t expect that in 2024 we would be where we are. We have set a five-year plan for us starting with 2025, and I think we came ahead, maybe six months earlier than we expected, and thank God for that,” Nunes told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.

Nunes attributed his stable’s success to the hard work and dedication of his staff, as well as the support of his owners, who reinvested in his barn and provided him with quality horses.

“The owners reinvested in my barn, and we got some nice horses, and the staff back at the stable continue to work hard. It’s the same staff that won the three championships in a row, and when you win at Jamaica Derby it always makes it even more special,” Nunes said.

The accomplished trainer also acknowledged the challenges he faced in 2024, including health setbacks. He credited his strong support system, including his family and staff, for helping him navigate those difficulties.

“God is good, you know, He’s very good,” Nunes said.

“I have a great support staff around me, my family, my wife and kids, and everybody. I’m including my staff, who continued to work while I battled through what I had to battle through, and so I’m very grateful and thankful for them as well,” he added.

As he looks to the 2025 season, Nunes vowed to approach the campaign with a renewed sense of enjoyment and appreciation.

“You want me to tell you the truth?” Nunes said. “Enjoy it. I need to enjoy it a little bit more. In those years of winning the championship, it was really stressful, and I don’t think I really appreciated the hard work and what it takes to win a championship.

“I’m going to enjoy striving towards winning a championship again, whether I do or not that’s irrelevant at this stage. It’s about enjoying what I love to do and this is my passion and it’s not a job, it’s a way of life for me and I love it and it’s time that I start to enjoy it,” Nunes said.

Nunes offered high praise for champion trainer DaCosta, who claimed yet another trainers’ title in 2024.

“He’s a fantastic trainer, there’s no doubt about it,” Nunes said.

“I remember when I won my third in 2021, where I beat him on the last day, I said in an interview, it’s not if he’s going to win championships, it’s how many. He’s a fantastic young man, he’s a really, really good horseman and trainer,” affirmed Nunes.

Nunes acknowledged that DaCosta will be a formidable force to reckon with in the future.

“It’s going to take a hell of a job by another trainer to beat him,” Nunes said.

“If you want to be a champion, or if I want to be a champion again, if somebody else wants to be a champion for the first time, you’ve got to go beat the champion, and [Jason] DaCosta is a worthy one, and is one that will be difficult to beat in the future,” Nunes ended.

Nunes started the 2025 racing with a bang, saddling three winners on Wednesday’s nine race card.

Nunes was successful with Tribal Chief, Prince Amaan, and Smart Trick in the day’s second, fourth, and eight races, respectively. Former six-time champion jockey Omar Walker was aboard Tribal Chief and Prince Amaan, while former two-time champion jockey Shane Ellis was atop Smart Trick.

In addition to these triumphs, he also secured two second-place finishes with the recently acquired horses Neo Star and Barnaby.

Due to these results, Nunes has positioned himself as the early frontrunner in the trainers’ championship standings for 2025.