Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert calls Nysos "one of the smartest horses I've ever trained." He ranks up there in talent, too.
In his first start since a gallant second in the Saudi Cup (G1), Nysos cruised to victory in the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) June 6 at Saratoga Race Course.
Under jockey Flavien Prat, the 5-year-old son of Nyquist completed the 1 mile in a final time of 1:34.85, just off the track record of 1:34.72, beating the field by 4 3/4 lengths. Knightsbridge finished second, and Journalism settled for third. Nysos paid $4.94 for the win.
Fractions of the race were :23.53, 45.61, and 1:09.49, respectively set at those stages by Nysos, Antiquarian, and Knightsbridge.
Baffert admitted to some anxious moments when Nysos fell back from first to fourth under Flavien Prat down the backstretch as several foes took aim at the lead.
"When he took him back, I just thought, 'I hope he knows what he's doing; he's either riding a really smart race or he's not running,' then when I saw him swing him out, then I thought, they were smoking up there," Baffert said.
Nysos finished with authority upon being moved to the outside, devastating the opposition.
"When I tipped him out, he gave me a great run," Prat said.
The Metropolitan Handicap, known as the Met Mile, served as a designated qualifiier under Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event, granting the winner an automatic, fees-paid spot in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), a race Nysos won last year at Del Mar. This year's Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland.
But Baffert said he wants to pursue the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at 1 1/4 miles, rather than the shorter Dirt Mile. He mentioned the Aug. 22 Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar as a possible race in between. The Pacific Classic is also at 1 1/4 miles
Susan and Charlie Chu of the Baoma Corp. bought Nysos for $550,000 at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Susie Atkins bred Nysos in Kentucky from the Bernardini mare Zetta Z, who has also produced stakes-placed Attabe. Nysos is by champion Nyquist , who stands for $175,000 at Darley in Kentucky.
Susan Chu brought a group of family members to cheer for Nysos in the Met Mile, hopeful of victory. Chu said this was her second time being on-site for a grade 1 victory at Saratoga, having earlier won the 2016 King's Bishop Stakes (G1) with the Baffert-trained Drefong.
"We bought an even better horse this time," she said.
Coolmore partnered with Baoma in the horse beginning this winter, and the Nyquist horse now races for Baoma Corp. and Coolmore-affiliated owners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
Those same owners also have a stake in Met Mile show finisher Journalism with other partners.
Charlie O'Connor, director of sales for Coolmore's Ashford Stud, said Nysos's victory "means the world to this horse. This is a real stallion-making race."
They bought his dam for $2 million at Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky Mixed Sale in 2024.
Nysos is now 8-2-0 in 10 starts with earnings of $5,288,500.
"He'll end up in our stallion barn in Ashford, and we're very excited," he said.
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