Baffert plans comebacks for older horses

The 4-year-old Nysos and 5-year-olds Fort Bragg and Speed Boat Beach, all stakes winners, are nearing comebacks for trainer Bob Baffert.

Baffert declined to state race goals for the trio on Sunday morning, but did say, “I’ll have some nice horses this spring.”

Nysos, unbeaten in three starts by a combined 26 3/4 lengths in 2023 and early last year, worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 at Santa Anita on Saturday, his fifth workout in as many weeks.

Nysos won the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at a mile for 3-year-olds by 7 1/2 lengths in his last start in February 2024. Nysos was rated as a contender for the Triple Crown races before being sidelined.

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Fort Bragg, winner of the Grade 3 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park in July 2023, worked six furlongs in 1:13.80 on Sunday. Fort Bragg has not raced since he recorded an attractive win in a six-furlong allowance race at Del Mar on Dec. 1.

Speed Boat Beach, winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs in December 2023 in his last race, worked a half-mile in 48 seconds on Sunday. Speed Boat Beach has had six workouts since late January.

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