The show put on by Nysos and Citizen Bull made everyone forget the South American disappointments

The two Bob Baffert trainees produced a spectacular Dirt Mile, as the Argentine-bred Full Serrano could do no better than fifth, while Uruguay’s Touch of Destiny trailed the field home

Nysos (left) and Citizen Bull delivered the most thrilling finish of the entire series / BREEDERS' CUP

By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario at Del Mar, California)

DEL MAR, California—The GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile carried one name written all over it: Bob Baffert. In a pulsating finish that perfectly embodied the spirit of the championships, Nysos, racing in the silks of Baoma Corp., held off his stablemate and reigning champion Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) by a head, giving Baffert his 21st Breeders’ Cup victory—tying none other than Aidan O’Brien for the all-time lead.

With Flavien Prat aboard, the son of Nyquist and Zetta Z (Bernardini) covered the mile on a fast track in 1:34.71, earning his first Grade I triumph and the sixth win of his seven-race career. The $520,000 winner’s share boosted his earnings to $1,118,500.

The result wasn’t as kind to the South American runners. Full Serrano (Full Mast), the Argentine star and defending Dirt Mile champion, was part of the early pace but began to fade entering the far turn, finishing fifth, 12 1/2 lengths behind the winner. His connections will look ahead optimistically—his talent remains unquestioned, and sometimes even the best simply meet better horses on the day.

For Touch of Destiny, the first Uruguayan horse ever to contest the Breeders’ Cup, the race proved an uphill battle. Attempting to duel early with much faster company proved costly for the gray son of Midshipman, who—noticeably light and flat—stopped badly down the backstretch and trailed home nearly 40 lengths adrift. Trainer Michael McCarthy will now aim to rebuild his confidence and fitness gradually, resetting for easier assignments.

Up front, Citizen Bull, last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile hero, set a sharp pace under pressure from Full Serrano and Touch of Destiny through rapid splits, while Prat kept Nysos tucked in behind, saving every ounce of energy on the inside. As the field hit the half-mile pole, Prat eased his colt into the clear, engaging his stablemate in a fierce stretch battle that wasn’t decided until the final strides.

“It should have been a dead heat!” joked a smiling Baffert afterward. “I knew I was going to win either way. Citizen Bull ran like the champion he is, and Nysos—who hadn’t raced for a while—showed his class. Everyone thought he was a freak, and today he proved it. It was an incredible race… just a shame one of them had to lose.”

Prat recounted: “I had a great trip. The pace was honest, and I was able to sit in behind and relax. When I got clear turning for home, I thought I had it, but Citizen Bull made me fight for every inch. Crossing the wire, I thought I’d won—but it was close, very close.”

Between two brilliant colts trained to perfection by the same master, Nysos ultimately prevailed in a Dirt Mile for the ages—one that not only highlighted Baffert’s enduring dominance on the racetrack, but also cemented his place in Breeders’ Cup history.