‘Baba’s Back’
...former champion trainer fires triple to keep title race alive
THE 2026 trainers’ championship just got loud again.
One week after Jason DaCosta posted a four-timer to cement his lead, former three-time champion Anthony “Baba” Nunes answered on Saturday, June 20 with three winners of his own. The message was clear: The race for the title is far from over.
Entering the day trailing DaCosta by over $8.7 million in stakes earnings, Nunes chopped that deficit to under $7 million with a perfectly timed punch. DaCosta, the current four-time defending champion, was held winless across the 10-race card.
Tajay Suckoo easily winning aboard Bowmore on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
Nunes’ triple was built on quality, not quantity. Bowmore and Nebuchadnezzar did the groundwork early in the fourth and seventh races, respectively.
Bowmore, ridden Tajay Suckoo, made one move to win the Restricted Allowance III contest for native-bred four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of four) and imported four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three) over 5½ furlongs (1,100m).
With Eric Haughton in the saddle, Nebuchadnezzar held off the competition to win the Restricted Allowance V contest for native-bred four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two), and imported four-year-olds and upward (maidens over six furlongs (1,200M).
Groom Steven Smith leads his charge Sir Don (Omar Walker) towards the winners’ enclosure after winning The Viceroy Trophy on Saturday, June 20, 2026. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
Then came the exclamation point. American-bred Sir Don delivered an electrifying performance in the $1.75-million Viceroy Trophy feature, sweeping all before him to lead home Nunes’ trifecta over 5½ furlongs. Ridden by Omar Walker, Sir Don beat stablemates Of A Revolution and Neo Star by 1¼ lengths in 1:05.2. It was dominance with style — the kind of win that tilts momentum.
For DaCosta, it was a rare off-day. After his four-winner surge last race day that looked to strengthen his control of the race, the barn went cold when Nunes turned up the heat.
Saturday’s card didn’t change who’s leading but it changed the story. DaCosta still holds the advantage but Nunes proved the gap can close fast when his stable fires.
