Not This Time’s Goal Oriented became the final North American Grade 1 winner of 2025 Dec. 28 at Santa Anita Park with a gallant victory in the Malibu S. (G1).

The 3-year-old colt, who had been facing the best of his generation for most of 2025, is the fourth Grade 1 winner this year for Not This Time. With just a few days remaining in the year, Not This Time leads all North American sires with 29 stakes winners.

In the Malibu, Goal Oriented was cutting back to a one-turn race for the first time since his April 6 debut win, also at Santa Anita. In no rush early, he was last of seven down the backstretch. Going into the turn, Goal Oriented began to make up ground while three-wide. Stablemates Midland Money and Madaket Road were in front turning for home, but Goal Oriented’s powerful strides were too much as he rolled by in the final furlong, winning by a length in 1:20.97 for the seven-eighths on a fast track.

“Bob [Baffert] had told me last week that this horse was doing really well,” said co-owner Tom Ryan. “I’ve seen him working with Nevada Beach, and when Nevada Beach ran so well earlier [in the Laffit Pincay S., second to Nysos], it kind of gave me confidence that this was the potential outcome. He got a nice draw on the outside.”

Ryan is part of an ownership group that includes SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan.

Third in both the Haskell (G1) and Pennsylvania Derby (G1) earlier this year, Goal Oriented is now 3-0-2 in seven starts and has earned $624,460. The dark bay colt was bred in Kentucky by Runnymede Farm LLC & CWC Investment 2, LLC and sold to his owners for $425,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September sale.