Nysos, with Robert Lewis triumph, makes it clear who's best in California

ARCADIA, Calif. – If there was any doubt to the identity of the best 3-year-old in California, Nysos put those doubts to rest Saturday at Santa Anita.

In his initial try around two turns, and just his third career start, Nysos stayed undefeated with a dazzling victory in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Nysos ($2.20) won the mile race by 7 1/2 lengths in a fast 1:36.65 to solidify his role as the top 3-year-old in California, if not the country.

Flavien Prat sent Nysos from the gate to establish position, then tucked fourth on the rail while Scatify set the pace inside Wine Me Up. Nysos took dirt, no problem, and waited for the cue from his rider. Prat gave it nearing the quarter pole.

Nysos angled outside, and the race was over in a flash. Nysos ran away to give trainer Bob Baffert his sixth consecutive victory in the Lewis, and 12th overall. The difference this year will be a source of discomfort the next three months. Although the Lewis is an early-season prep for the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs has barred Baffert from this year’s Derby.

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Baffert did not address the ban in a post-race interview. “I’m blessed to have horses like this, and the clientele to put me in this position,” Baffert said. Nysos is owned by the Baoma Corp. of Susan and Charlie Chu, who kept Nysos with Baffert despite the Churchill Downs ban of Baffert.

Wine Me Up finished three-quarters of a length in front of Scatify. The order of finish was completed by Mc Vay, Moonlit Sonata, Better Than Gold and Ace of Clubs. Stronghold and Coach Prime scratched.

Saturday was all about Nysos, who acted the same in the Santa Anita paddock as he did in the Del Mar paddock prior to his most recent win on Nov. 19 in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes. Nysos is a cool customer, oblivious to pre-race hoopla. He sauntered around the walking ring like he was out for an afternoon stroll.

In a way, he was.

“This horse, he’s got a great mind. And he’s got gears,” Baffert said. “He showed us that in the morning. You look at him, he’s a quiet horse.”

While the leaders dueled, Nysos and Prat stayed inside. Baffert was watching the action unfold on the front end, because he also trains Wine Me Up. But the money was on Nysos, and Baffert saw where he was positioned, third or fourth on the rail.

“I wasn’t really worried,” Baffert said. “I thought at the (five-sixteenths pole), if he’s a really good horse, he’ll get there.”

Nysos is a really good horse. Sired by Nyquist, he has now won three races by a combined margin of 26 and three-quarter lengths.

The races he will target this spring are immediately uncertain, although the Santa Anita Derby and Preakness Stakes will enter the conversation.

Baffert scratched Coach Prime to wait for an unspecified race. “He’s still developing, I think he’s a good horse,” Baffert said. Although he was referring to Coach Prime, a Derby-season Baffert quote may also apply to Nysos: “There’s no rush.”

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