The Coolmore partners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, officially announced June 8 that have purchased multiple grade 1 winner Nysos and will race him in partnership with the Baoma Corp. through the 2026 racing season before he retires to stand at Ashford Stud.
The 5-year-old son of prominent sire Nyquist most recently captured the June 6 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course by 4 lengths in a final time of 1:34.85, just off the track record of 1:34.72 for a mile.
Trained by Bob Baffert, who calls him one of the smartest horses he's ever trained, Nysos burst onto the scene at 2 with a 10 1/2-length maiden victory in his debut start at Santa Anita Park before following up with an 8 3/4-length triumph in the Bob Hope Stakes (G3). He kept the momentum going at the start of his 3-year-old season when he captured the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) by 7 1/2 lengths. Nysos then suffered a minor setback that took him off the Triple Crown trail.
Nysos' return at 4, after nearly 15 months off, came in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) where he was a neck shy in second to Mindframe . He then raced unbeaten for the remainder of his 4-year-old season, stringing together victories in the Triple Bend Stakes (G3) and San Diego Handicap (G2) before capturing the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) by a gritty head over future Coolmore America stallion prospect Citizen Bull and multiple grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick , who finished third. He would end 2025 with a win in the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2).
At 5, Nysos opened his campaign overseas where he faced United States and Japanese champion Forever Young in the Saudi Cup (G1), finishing a gallant second in a battle that Baffert described as "King Kong versus Godzilla." Nysos then returned to the U.S. and landed his second grade 1 win in the Met Mile.
With 10 career starts to date, Nysos has eight wins and two seconds with career earnings of nearly $5.3 million.
"Nysos represents a true milestone for Charles (Chu) and me," said co-owner Susan Chu with Baoma. "He means far more to us than exceptional racing success. Through him, we have learned patience and perseverance, and we are deeply grateful to Bob Baffert for developing him into one of our outstanding racing stars and guiding him throughout his remarkable career. We are equally delighted that Coolmore will manage the next chapter of Nysos's journey. He will have every opportunity to make a significant impact as a stallion, and we are committed to supporting him with our very best stakes-winning mares. We look forward to watching his legacy continue for generations to come."
Susie Atkins bred Nysos in Kentucky out of the Bernardini daughter Zetta Z, who Coolmore bought for $2 million in foal to Cyberknife from Grovendale Sales during the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale. Zetta Z's second dam is 2001 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Unbridled Elaine, who is the dam of graded/group winners Etched, Emotionless, and Out of Bounds. Unbridled Elaine is also a half sister to 1997 Ashland Stakes (G1) winner Glitter Woman, who is the dam of grade 1 winner Political Force.
Following the Met Mile, Baffert said: "What a talented horse. I always thought he's one of the best older horses in training and today he showed it."
Nysos will continue racing through the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships, being run Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland, before retiring to Ashford Stud.
