Nysos towers over Pincay field in possible prep for Saudi Cup

Nysos is expected to end a near-perfect 2025 season with a win in Sunday’s Grade 2 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes at Santa Anita. He is the 3-5 favorite on the morning line and the only millionaire in a field of seven.

The race is a likely bridge to the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 14 for a 4-year-old colt who last month affirmed his position as one of the nation’s leading older horses with a hard-fought win in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar.

Trained by Bob Baffert for Charles and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp., Nysos has had a brilliant career, winning 6 of 7 starts since October 2023 at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. The $200,000 Pincay Stakes is run at 1 1/16 miles.

This year, Nysos was beaten for the first time when he finished a game second by a neck to Mindframe in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes at seven furlongs on May 3, his first start in 15 months.

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Nysos has not lost since, winning the Grade 3 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita later in May, the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on July 26, and the BC Dirt Mile by a head over stablemate Citizen Bull on Nov. 1.

The summer was not without mishap. Nysos missed the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August because of a foot issue, Baffert said at the time.

Nysos won the BC Dirt Mile after dueling through the stretch with Citizen Bull.

“It was exciting,” Baffert recalled last week. “It looked like he would swallow Citizen Bull, but Citizen Bull kicked back in and it was a throwdown.

“It was so tight. These horses they were battling. I was proud of both of them.”

Citizen Bull, the champion 2-year-old male of 2023, has since been retired to stud.

Nysos, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat on Sunday, starts from the inside post. He is likely to race from a stalking position behind Bartholdy, the winner of an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 30.

Baffert also starts the three-time stakes winner Nevada Beach, who finished seventh of nine in the BC Classic on Nov. 1 and rebounded to beat three rivals in the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 22.

“I think he’ll get better with age,” Baffert said.

Nevada Beach is held in highest regard by Baffert so much that Sunday’s race is likely to lead to a lucrative road trip for the 3-year-old colt, perhaps the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24.

“They could both go to Saudi or one could go to the Pegasus,” Baffert said.

While Nevada Beach and Nysos have proven stakes form, the Pincay will be the first stakese for Vodka Vodka, who has won three of his last four starts. Vodka Vodka won an allowance race on dirt at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on Oct. 31

“He continues to improve and shine,” trainer Aggie Ordonez said. “I think he’s matured and the teenage boy has become a man.

“It will be a big test for him. It’s a good time to find out if he can run at the top level. We can make plans for the rest of the year.

British Isles, trained by Richard Baltas, gave Nevada Beach a fuss in the Native Diver before finishing second by a half-length in his first start in a stakes on dirt.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Baltas said.

On Sunday, British Isles will not be far from the front.

“It will be a tougher race, for sure,” Baltas said. “If Nysos fires, he’s the best horse.”

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