Nysos retired after scan reveals 'minor changes'

Nysos, a multiple Grade 1 winner who was often in brilliant in a career interrupted by injuries, has been retired from racing after his connections determined he will need time off and would not be ready for a bid at the Breeders’ Cup this fall.

According to a press release sent out Monday by Coolmore, for whom Nysos will stand stud at its Ashford Stud property in Kentucky, the decision to retire the 5-year-old son of Nyquist was made following a routine diagnostic evaluation that revealed subtle imaging changes on a scan.

The release said while Nysos remains sound and uninjured, trainer Bob Baffert and the ownership group comprising Baoma Corporation and the Coolmore partners unanimously agreed to take a strict precautionary approach, prioritizing the horse’s long-term health and safety above all else.

"Nysos is not hurt or injured, but taking a precautionary approach is strictly about doing what is right for the horse," Baffert said in the release. "With the minor changes shown on the evaluation, we simply don't have the time needed to prepare him for the Breeders’ Cup the way we would want to.

“He has given us everything and retiring him completely sound and at the top of his game is the proper decision."

Baffert, a few weeks ago, shipped Nysos from Kentucky to Del Mar where he was going to run in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 22.

Nysos won 8 of 10 starts, including the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga on June 6, beating Knightsbridge by four lengths and Journalism by 5 3/4 lengths. Knightsbridge came back to win the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup by 10 lengths, earning a 122 Beyer Speed Figure. Journalism came back to win the Grade 2 San Diego at Del Mar, though he was injured in that race and has been retired.

Nysos’s other stakes wins included the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, the Grade 2 Laffit Pincay Jr., the Grade 2 San Diego, the Grade 3 Triple Bend, the 2024 Grade 3 Robert Lewis, and the 2023 Grade 2 Bob Hope.

Nysos, who was campaigned by Susan and Charles Chu's Baoma Corp. before Coolmore joined in last fall, earned $5,288,500 in his career.

“He was brilliant from day one," Baffert said. "He possessed a great mind, raw speed, and incredible intelligence. He is a remarkably talented racehorse.

“When he opened up on a field, the margins he put on top horses were unbelievable. He made top-class competition look ordinary, and I have no doubt he will be a massive success at stud."