The Triple Bend Stakes (G3) descended in grade and value this year, but the latest renewal of the seven-furlong sprint May 31 at Santa Anita Park still lured several notable but sparsely raced runners.
The $100,000 sprint, a grade 1 from 2003-18 and a grade 2 worth about $200,000 annually from 2019-24, lured Spirit of Makena, the 2023 Triple Bend winner, as well as graded stakes winners Dr. Venkman and Nysos among its five entrants. The latter, a winner of his first three races by a combined 26 3/4 lengths and a close second in the May 3 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) in his lone defeat, was so highly regarded last year as a 3-year-old that he closed as the 5-2 favorite in the 2024 Preakness Future Wager. He will also be favored Saturday.
Nysos never started in the 2024 Preakness Stakes (G1), missing the most of his 3-year-old season after romping in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita in February 2024 for owner Baoma. Away for 15 months due to physical setbacks, he did not resume racing until Kentucky Derby Day, where he fired fresh in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes to finish in a dead heat for second with Banishing, beaten a neck by Mindframe. His narrow defeat came after a mediocre start that left him further off the pace than in his three earlier races.
Considered for the June 7 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, he instead lands in the Triple Bend. The 4-year-old Nyquist colt drilled five furlongs in :59 1/5 at Santa Anita May 23 after an earlier three-furlong workout at Churchill Downs May 11.
Baffert, a seven-time Triple Bend winner, trains Nysos. He has given the mount to Juan Hernandez.
Also making his second start of 2025 after an extended hiatus is Kris Chandler's Spirit of Makena. Shelved from racing for 18 months after going off form in his final three starts of 2023, he returned March 29 at Santa Anita, running third in the San Carlos Stakes (G3), beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Pilot Commander.
He won both the San Carlos and Triple Bend in 2023, taking the latter race by 3 1/4 lengths.
Kyle Frey rides the 7-year-old son of Ghostzapper for trainer George Papaprodromou. Besides winning the 2023 Triple Bend, Papaprodromou captured the 2022 Triple Bend with American Theorem .
Another son of Ghostzapper, Dr. Venkman, is unstarted this year, which may put him at a fitness disadvantage. Out of action since finishing fourth in last summer's 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), he kicks off his season in the Triple Bend for the second year in a row. Last year he checked in second, 4 1/2 lengths behind victorious Happy Jack. Dr. Venkman advanced to late win the 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar before his final start of 2024 in the Pacific Classic in late August.
Smooth Cruisein, a fast first-level allowance optional claiming winner April 26, and Vlahos, a close fourth in a second-level allowance optional claimer May 4, round out the field.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, May 31, 2025, Race 7Entries: Triple Bend S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Vlahos (KY) Edwin A. Maldonado 124 Doug F. O'Neill 10/1 2 2Nysos (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 126 Bob Baffert 3/5 3 3Spirit of Makena (KY) Kyle Frey 126 George Papaprodromou 12/1 4 4Smooth Cruisein (FL) Tiago Josue Pereira 114 Karen Headley 6/1 5 5Dr. Venkman (KY) Antonio Fresu 126 Mark Glatt 2/1
