Bob Baffert dreams of big goals for Nysos after the Saudi Cup

In statements to the Daily Racing Form, the trainer expressed his satisfaction with the second-place finish of the son of Nyquist and admitted that he will work toward reaching the Breeders' Cup Classic

Bob Baffert during the week leading up to the Saudi Cup / JCSA

ARCADIA, California (Special for Turf Diario).- The blow was tough, but it also left certainties. Nysos could not overcome the imposing Forever Young (Real Steel) in the Saudi Cup (G1), but his second-place finish in the world's richest race not only meant a check for $3,500,000: it also opened a door toward a greater objective.

“I’m going to work the schedule toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic,” stated Bob Baffert, with his sights already set on October 31 at Keeneland.

The son of Nyquist fell by just one length in the 1800 meters of Riyadh, in a performance that confirmed he can aspire to more. It was only his second defeat in 9 starts and, perhaps most importantly, it left the feeling that the 2000 meters of the Classic will not be too much for him. “When he turned the corner, I thought we would catch him. At the wire, he was still running. He can handle the mile and a quarter,” the trainer assured.

Forever Young—11 wins in 14 starts and nearly 30 million dollars in prize money—once again frustrated Baffert, who has yet to conquer the Saudi Cup despite 9 attempts and 4 second-place finishes—Charlatan (Speightstown) in 2021, Country Grammer (Tonalist) in 2022 and 2023, and now Nysos. “If you’re going to beat that horse, you need a perfect trip. He beat us fair and square,” he acknowledged.

Nysos, owned by Baoma Corp. (Charles and Susan Chu), will return to the United States this Friday along with stablemates Imagination (Into Mischief) and Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), with a quarantine stop in Chicagobefore returning to Santa Anita.

If Nysos' second place left hope, the victory of Imagination in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) confirmed that the trip was not in vain. After a cold start and dropping to last, Baffert's pupil found an inside path with Flavien Prat and finished strongly to dominate in the final meters. “When he missed the break, I thought: we came all the way here for this… But he gets stronger as he goes. I needed every meter of the 1200,” the trainer confessed.

The win, the most important of his campaign, reopens the debate about his ideal distance. “I think he’s a miler, or for 1400 meters,” Baffert anticipated, placing races like the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) or the Metropolitan Handicap(G1) at Saratoga on the radar.

Meanwhile, Forever Young will follow his own path toward the Dubai World Cup (G1). Baffert, with irony, quipped: “He should stay in Japan. He’s done enough.” But even he doesn't believe that will happen.

In parallel, the prominent trainer celebrated at home last Sunday with Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso), winner of the Sunland Park Oaks, whose next goal is the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 1st.

For Baffert, the Saudi Cup was once again just a step away. But this time, more than frustration, it left a clear roadmap. And on that map, underlined in red, one destination appears: the Breeders’ Cup Classic.