Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has had his share of disappointments in the San Diego Handicap (G2). As early as 1998, the trainer's dual classic winner Silver Charm finished far up the track as the 3-10 favorite. Nineteen years later, the Baffert-trained Arrogate, hailed as the greatest horse in the world at the time following a dominating victory in the 2017 Dubai World Cup (G1), suffered a shocking defeat at odds of 1-20.
While he registered wins in 2014 with Fed Biz and 2020 with Maximum Security , beaten San Diego favorites Country Grammer (2-1, 2022), Defunded (4-5, 2023), and Arabian Knight (2-5, 2024) reinstated the trainer's string of bad luck.
It would be up to Nysos, a horse whose brilliance has been widely regarded since his debut, to break the jinx.
Bet down at 1-9 on a sunny afternoon July 26, Nysos not just broke but shattered the jinx.
"There was a lot of pressure," Baffert said. "I've had a lot of good horses get beat in this race. (Baffert's son) Bode even told me 'Dad, please don't run Nysos in the San Diego, our record isn't really good in that race.'"
The 4-year-old son of Nyquist , bogged down by traffic at the top of the lane, angled into a seam and stormed clear, winning like a 1-9 favorite should. Rider Flavien Prat wrapped up on the colt under the wire, saving him for future targets.
The $300,500 San Diego was Nysos' first attempt at the 1 1/16-mile distance, a test he passed in a final time of 1:42.61. Although the win in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen contest secured $15,000 for Nysos toward entry fees for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar in November, Baffert announced the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) Aug. 30 would be next for the colt.
The 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic, the jewel of the Del Mar summer meet, is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In race for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). If Nysos were to win the Pacific Classic, it would give Baffert and his owners, Baoma Corp, a mind-boggling three viable options come Breeders' Cup time. As it stands after his San Diego romp, the 4-year-old appears to be a legitimate contender in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), Dirt Mile, and Classic.
Nysos, entering off a sharp score in the seven-furlong Triple Bend Handicap (G3), took a backseat to stablemate Mirahmadi as the San Diego was underway. The bullish front-runner set a quick tempo in his fifth stakes try, breezing through early fractions of :23.49, :46.91, and 1:10.82.
Meanwhile, Prat was a patient passenger aboard Nysos, sitting a ground-saving trip along the rail. His rivals seemed ever content to let him stay there as long as they could.
As the field turned for home, Mirahmadi proved to be a tough customer on the front end, repelling the field's initial late charge at the head of the stretch. The $1.05 million purchase's gameness gave way grudgingly only to his stablemate, who had emerged from the traffic in one moment and was gone in the next.
Nysos ($2.20) finished 2 3/4 lengths of Mirahmadi. Tarantino completed the trifecta at 57-1. Mirahmadi and Tarantino secured $7,500 and $3,750, respectively, toward entry fees for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
"They were both ready," Baffert said. "Prat tucked in behind there. They both ran (well). Mirahmadi ran his race, but Prat had enough horse and cut the corner. It's exciting. I'm thrilled for both horses."
Video: San Diego H. (G2)
Brant Wows in Maiden Score
Earlier on the card, Baffert unveiled the flashy 2-year-old Brant in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight. The $3 million sale topper at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training didn't disappoint, winning by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:02.63, less than a second off the track record.
Prat rode the son of Gun Runner for owner Zedan Racing Stables.
