Nysos © Benoit Photo
Baoma Corp’s Nysos, 1/9 on the board and only tasked with turning back five rivals, handled his job like a good horse should and drew clear through the lane to finish two and three quarters best in the 84th edition of the San Diego Handicap Saturday at Del Mar.
The flashy Nyquist colt was handled by champion jockey Flavien Prat and takes his barn cues from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The two of them combined to win their 100th stakes at Del Mar (Prat) and their record 179th one (Baffert).
The winner, a bay 4-year-old, paid the minimum $2.20 to his backers. He also picked up a first prize of $180,000 from the gross purse of $300,500 in the Grade II headliner. He ran the mile and one sixteenth in 1:42.61. He now has earnings of $598,500 for five victories and a second in six starts.
Finishing second was SF Racing, Starlight Racing, et al’s Mirahmadi, who was three and a quarter lengths better than Bernsen or Rockingham Ranch’s Tarantino.
The San Diego is considered the track’s key prep for its piece de resistance – the $1,000,000, Grade I Pacific Classic, which will be run on Saturday, August 30.
Baffert indicated if all is well, the Pacific Classic would likely be his horse’s next stop.
FLAVIEN PRAT (Nysos, winner) – “He broke well and he was comfortable down inside, so I stayed there. He was comfortable all the way around. I didn’t have any special instructions with him; just ride. Can he run farther? We’ll, you never really know until they do, but I get the impression he’ll be able to handle it.”
BOB BAFFERT (Nysos, winner) – “He was ready. (Flavien) Prat just sat patiently behind there and he had enough horse to cut the corner. Once he got that little seam, I knew it was over. I’m glad to win the San Diego. I haven’t had the best of luck in this race. I’ve had some great horses get beat here. But a lot of pressure. I felt what Bill Mott was feeling today (in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga). It’s just a relief that this horse won and hopefully the Pacific Classic is next for him.”
FRACTIONS: M:23.49 :46.91 1:10.82 1:36.30 1:42.61
The stakes win is the first of the meet for rider Prat and his first in the San Diego. He now has 100 stakes wins at Del Mar, fifth most of all riders.
The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Baffert, but his third in the San Diego. He now has 179 stakes wins at Del Mar, far and away the most by any trainer.
The winning owners are the Baoma Corp, of Charles and Susan Chu of Massachusetts.