Nysos Returns in Style With Dominant Display in Triple Bend at Santa Anita

After tasting defeat for the first time at Churchill Downs, Nysos returned to home turf and bounced back with an ultra-comfortable victory

Juan Hernández stole a glance over his shoulder—there were no challengers in sight / BENOIT PHOTO

ARCADIA, California (Special for Turf Diario).- Just a month after suffering the first defeat of his career at Churchill Downs, Nysos bounced back in a big way, delivering a commanding 5 1/2-length score in the $100,000 GIII Triple Bend S. going seven furlongs Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

The Baoma Corp. colorbearer, making only his second start in 16 months, showed no signs of rust as he returned to his home track and collected his third graded stakes victory for trainer Bob Baffert.

Ridden for the first time by Juan Hernández, the son of Nyquist broke alertly from the rail and quickly engaged in the pace battle while racing four wide down the backstretch. After clocking an opening quarter in :22.70, Nysos was just a half-length behind defending champion Spirit of Makena (Ghostzapper), and by the half-mile in :44.29, he had edged ahead of second choice Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper).

From there, it was all Nysos. The bay colt drew off with authority through the lane under minimal urging, stopping the clock in a sharp 1:21.28 and signaling he's ready for a step back up to Grade I company.

“He broke beautifully,” said Hernández, who had only been aboard Nysos in a morning breeze prior to Saturday. “He got into the race really smoothly... I asked him a little in the turn, and he took off. He’s a classy horse, and Bob had him ready.”

Dr. Venkman, making his first start in nine months for trainer Mark Glatt, held second, while Smooth Cruisein (Girvin) rounded out the trifecta. Vlahos (Kantharos) was scratched earlier in the day, leaving just four runners and no show wagering.

“Juan rode him perfectly,” Baffert said. “He broke sharp and stayed engaged. In a short field like this, you know you’ll be a target, but he held his ground and once he took the lead, it was clear what kind of horse he is.”

After the close runner-up finish behind Gun Pilot in the GI Churchill Downs S. on the Kentucky Derby undercard, Baffert had considered shipping Nysos to Saratoga for next Saturday’s GI Metropolitan H., but ultimately chose a more conservative path to rebuild confidence—and the move paid off.

“When he lost, I honestly didn’t think they could beat him,” Baffert admitted. “But he didn’t have a great trip and had to dodge puddles on a sloppy track. He came back really strong, was aggressive for a couple weeks, then settled back down. He’s a very chill horse in the paddock—great mind.”

A debut winner at two over this same strip in October, Nysos followed up with an easy score in the GIII Bob Hope S. at Del Mar, and captured the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. in his lone sophomore start this February. His record now stands at 5-4-1-0 with earnings of $418,500.

“It’s exciting to have a top older horse in the barn,” Baffert said.