The Triple Bend Stakes (G3) gave Nysos the perfect platform to remind fans what trainer Bob Baffert has known all along—the colt has immense talent. Nysos cruised to the easiest of victories in the seven-furlong Santa Anita Park race for a performance that demonstrated limitless potential.
With the scratch of Vlahos, the Triple Bend field numbered only four, but it included 2023 Triple Bend winner Spirit of Makena and Dr. Venkman, who ran second in the race last year. Bettors justifiably pounded Nysos down to 1-5 favoritism and gave only Dr. Venkman, at 5-2, any chance to threaten.
Nysos didn't allow for much suspense. The quartet broke from the gate, and while Nysos technically came away last, he was right there for jockey Juan Hernandez. They never gave up their rail position, which allowed Nysos to move to the lead well before the turn and in time for him to own the half-mile fraction of :44.29.
Dr. Venkman ranged up in an attempt to challenge Nysos on the turn, but it quickly became apparent that he was running for second. Nysos strolled away from Dr. Venkman to score by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:21.28. Dr. Venkman had nearly as emphatic a stranglehold on second, coming home 4 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place Smooth Cruisein.
Owner Susan Chu of the Baoma traveled from her home in Massachusetts to see her comeback kid.
"He's such a good horse—I'm so happy," Chu said.
Hernandez was riding Nysos for the first time and had previously worked him only once.
"He broke so beautiful," Hernandez said. "He was right there and really comfortable. Around the quarter pole, I shook the reins and he took off."
Nysos had annihilated the competition by a combined 19 1/4 lengths in his first two races at 2 in 2023. After he added the 2024 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) by 7 1/2 lengths, he became the 5-2 favorite in that year's Preakness Future Wager. But Nysos missed the next 15 months with physical issues.
Racing next at Churchill Downs May 3, his return was an excellent second by a neck to Mindframe in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) in the slop. He returned to his home base of California for the Triple Bend, though Baffert had contemplated the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) in New York.
Baffert has always said that Nysos has incredible talent. The trainer, who was winning his eighth Triple Bend, felt that the race will allow him to "plan something out" for the colt. The ultimate goal this year will be the Breeders' Cup, and while Nysos has shown the versatility for several of the races, Baffert indicated that the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) will be the target.
"He's a Classic horse—he can go all day," Baffert said. "This was pretty impressive, and that was a nice field. That Dr. Venkman is a good horse.
"Susan Chu has a lot of patience, loves her horses, does the right thing, and doesn't put any pressure on me. She just says, 'Run him when he's ready.' We've always known he's a great horse, so we're just going to take our time with him."
Baffert declined to specify what race might be next.
"I'll see how he comes out of this race," he said. "We'll give Del Mar some serious consideration—the Pacific Classic. He could show up anywhere, back east—I don't know."
Nysos cost Baoma $550,000 at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. He had gone through earlier sales for $130,000 as a weanling and $150,000 as a yearling. Susie Atkins bred Nysos in Kentucky from the Bernardini mare Zetta Z, a granddaughter of 2001 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Unbridled Elaine.
Nysos, Tenma (also owned by Baoma and trained by Baffert), Cavalieri, Verity, and Gosger are 2025 graded winners sired by Nyquist . Champion 2-year-old male of 2015, Nyquist stands for a 2025 stud fee of $175,000 at Darley near Lexington.
