Kentucky-bred Nysos turned in an overpowering performance to win the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.
With his victory in the Met Mile, the 5-year-old son of Nyquist earned a chance to defend his title in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile M (G1) at Keeneland Race Course Oct. 31, through the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series.
Owned by Charles and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp and the Coolmore partners of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Nysos made his first start while cutting back in distance from a one-length defeat to Forever Young (JPN) in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at 1 1/8 miles in February.
Ridden in the Met Mile by jockey Flavien Prat, Nysos vanquished the other six horses in the field which included four graded stakes winners. His final time for the mile on the fast main track was 1:34.85, just 13-hundreths of a second shy of the track record that has stood for 34 years since being established by Key Contender in 1992.
Breaking from the rail, Nysos went to the lead and set the first split in 23.52 seconds with Antiquarian in close quarters. Prat took his charge back off the blistering pace as Antiquarian led the way to the half-mile pole in 45.61 and then multiple Grade 3 winner Knightsbridge took the lead and tipped the timer in a sizzling 1:09.49 for six furlongs.
Around the far turn, Nysos made his move. From that point on he just cruised by the competition while lengthening his lead, covering seven furlongs in 1:21.81. He finished four lengths in front of Knightsbridge. Three-time Grade 1 winner Journalism finished third.
Whitney or Pacific Classic Next for Nysos
“He’s good; a great horse,” Baffert said. “That was a tough bunch. I’m just so happy for the owners. They let me take my time with this horse and get him ready. I’m just happy that he ran his race. I told [Flavien] Prat you’re going to have to quarter-horse him away from there and he did, he got him away from there. But Prat, he knows the horse really well. He rode him with a lot of confidence.”
Baffert said a next start for Nysos could come in either the nine-furlong $1 million Whitney (G1) on Aug. 8 at Saratoga, or the 10-furlong Pacific Classic (G1) on Aug. 22 at Del Mar. Both races offer a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Nysos has now won eight of his 10 races and has never been worse than second. He boosted his earnings to $5,288,500 with the $550,000 winner’s share of the purse. Nysos was bred in Kentucky by Susie Atkins and was a $550,000 yearling purchase. He is out of the Bernardini mare Zetta Z.