Nysos will skip Stephen Foster, run in San Diego Handicap
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ARCADIA, Calif. - Nysos, a three-time Grade 3 stakes winner who is a neck away from an unbeaten record, is scheduled to have his next start in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 26.
Nysos, trained by Bob Baffert for Charles and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp., was second by a neck in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes at seven furlongs on May 3 in his first start of the year. Nysos was the brilliant winner of the Grade 3 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on May 31 in his most recent appearance.
Nysos was under consideration for the Grade 1, $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Churchill on June 28, but Baffert said the $300,000 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles is a better fit on the 4-year-old colt’s calendar.
“I was going to go for the Stephen Foster, but I thought I’d give him extra time,” Baffert said.
A 4-year-old colt by Nyquist, Nysos has the Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 1 as a long-term goal, with a possible start in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar on Aug. 30. The winner of the $1 million Pacific Classic receives a fees-paid berth to the BC Classic.
“The main thing is to have him ready for the Breeders’ Cup,” Baffert said.
Nysos has won 4 of 5 starts and earned $418,500. On Saturday at Santa Anita, Nysos worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds, his first work since the Triple Bend. Baffert described the workout as “easy.”
“He’s ready,” Baffert said.
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