Nysos thrust himself into the debate over the best older racehorse in the United States — and perhaps even the world — with a commanding victory in the Metropolitan Mile on Belmont Stakes Day. His talent had flashed on earlier race cards, but the Bob Baffert-trained runner delivered his clearest statement yet on the same afternoon Golden Tempo made history. As the road to the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland begins to take shape, Nysos has emerged as one of the sport’s early standard-bearers.
The Grade 1 Met Mile has long stood as one of the crown jewels for older Thoroughbreds. First run in 1891, the famed “stallion maker” once again attracted a deep field in 2026. Breaking from the rail in the one-turn mile, Nysos came away sharply and showed speed immediately. Jockey Flavien Prat then kept him tucked inside while graded stakes winners Antiquarian, Saudi Crown and Knightsbridge moved ahead as the seven-horse field headed down the backstretch.
Versatile Horsepower On Display At Saratoga In Latest Win
That left Nysos entering the far turn with speed in front of him and closers waiting behind. Prat angled him outside, settled him briefly, and then asked for his best. Nysos responded in emphatic fashion, sweeping back to the lead at the top of the stretch. From there, the son of Nyquist powered clear, turning the final furlong into a formality. By the eighth pole, the outcome was no longer in doubt, and he ultimately crossed the wire four lengths in front of Knightsbridge, who finished another 3 3/4 lengths ahead of the rest.
“We knew we needed to quarter horse break out of the gates because of the post position and configuration of the Saratoga track for these mile races,” Baffert said. “Prat rode the horse beautifully against a very talented group. You can only do it that way and win if you have a Ferrari.”
The Met Mile was only the 10th start of Nysos’ career, which has already included both brilliance and interruption. Foaled in 2021, he was bought by Baoma Corporation for $550,000 as a 2-year-old and sent to Baffert. He won his first three starts by a combined 26 3/4 lengths before a training mishap sidelined him for more than a year. His return at age 4 came on May 3, 2025, when he was narrowly beaten by a neck in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes over a muddy track. He followed that with graded wins in the Triple Bend in late May and the San Diego in July, only for another minor setback to interrupt his campaign again. Nysos still finished 2025 on a high note with determined victories in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the Laffit Pincay Stakes, then opened this season with a strong runner-up finish to Forever Young in the Saudi Cup on Feb. 14.
“We have always known Nysos is super-talented, he has just had to have lots of time off for different reasons,” Baffert said. “I am very thankful his owners have been patient and allowed us to take our time with him. He has shown different dimensions and the versatility of a really good race horse. Runners like him don’t come around all that often. If he stays healthy, watch out, because we could see some really special things from him.”
A Five-Year-Old Nysos Has Battled To Get To The Top
The Met Mile was just the tenth start for Nysos in a career marked with injury and setbacks. Foaled in 2021, he was purchased by the Baoma Corporation for $550,000 as a two-year old and placed in the Bob Baffert barn. After winning his first three races by a combined 26 ¾ lengths, Nysos was placed on injured reserve for over a year after a mishap while training. His comeback race at four on May 3, 2025 was a jump right into the deep end of the pool and he was beaten a neck on a muddy track in the grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes. Back-to-back graded Stakes wins in late May (Triple Bend) and July (San Diego) exuded brilliance, but another minor setback kept him off the track until he closed the year with determined wins in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the Laffit Pincay Stakes. This racing year began with a shoot for the moon run in the Saudi Cup on February 14 where he finished a very determined second to Forever Young, who is widely regarded as one of the best race horses in the world.
Nysos and jockey Flavien Prat, have been a formidable team. Benoit Photo
BENOIT PHOTO
“We have always known Nysos is super-talented, he has just had to have lots of time off for different reasons”, says Baffert. “I am very thankful his owners have been patient and allowed us to take our time with him. He has shown different dimensions and the versatility of a really good race horse. Runners like him don’t come around all that often. If he stays healthy watch out because we could see some really special things from him.”
Nysos boast a career record of eight wins and two second place finishes in ten starts. His on-track earnings are at $5,288,500. His next start is to be determined with the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga or Pacific Classic at Del Mar as potential targets as he runs towards the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on October 31.
