With odds heavily in his favor at 1-9 on a sun-kissed afternoon at Del Mar, Nysos secured a triumph for Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert in the Grade 2 $300,000 San Diego Handicap held on July 26.
“The pressure was definitely on,” Baffert stated. “I’ve witnessed several exceptional horses falter in this particular race.”
Nysos encountered some congestion at the top of the stretch before maneuvering through an opening between competitors and surging ahead to a decisive victory, living up to his role as the overwhelming 1-9 favorite. Jockey Flavien Prat eased up on the colt near the finish line, conserving his energy for upcoming challenges.
The $300,500 San Diego marked Nysos’ inaugural attempt at the 1 1/16-mile distance, a challenge he successfully navigated with a final time of 1:42.61.
Baffert revealed that the Grade 1 FanDuel Pacific Classic Stakes on Aug. 30 at Del Mar is the next target for the colt. Based on his impressive performance in the San Diego Handicap, the 4-year-old appears to be a strong contender for the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint, the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, or the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Nysos initially trailed behind stablemate Mirahmadi, who established a brisk pace through early splits of :23.49, :46.91, and 1:10.82.
Meanwhile, Prat skillfully guided Nysos, maintaining a ground-saving position along the inner rail. His rivals seemed content to allow him to remain there. As the field entered the homestretch, Mirahmadi reluctantly yielded to his stablemate, who emerged from the pack and quickly took command.
Nysos ($2.20) crossed the finish line 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Mirahmadi. Tarantino completed the trifecta at long odds of 57-1.
Lovesick Blues delivered a stunning upset against some of the top sprinters in California and beyond, claiming victory in the $402,000 Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on July 26 at Del Mar. The 7-year-old California-bred gelding secured his first graded stakes win in his 41st career start, after competing on turf in his previous five races. Lovesick Blues paid $39.20 to win and provided trainer Librado Barocio with his second graded stakes victory and his first-ever Grade 1 win.
“We take risks to succeed. One must step up to the plate to hit a home run,” Barocio explained.
The winning jockey was Geovanni Franco. He surged from seventh place early in the race to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Hejazi, who set the early pace, managed to hold on for second place. World Record, a shipper from Kentucky, finished third.
The final time for the six-furlong distance on the fast dirt track was 1:08.74.
The Bing Crosby is a component of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” Series, granting automatic paid entry into the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint this fall at Del Mar. — Tracy Gantz
