Nysos gets split, gallops in San Diego; Lovesick Blues upsets Bing Crosby

Unbeaten in California and a neck away from being perfect overall, Nysos towered over the field in Saturday’s $300,500 San Diego H. (G2) at Del Mar. The Bob Baffert star had to wait for room before he could assert that dominance, but the gap came soon enough, and the result became a mere formality for the 1-10 favorite.

Later in the Bing Crosby (G1), Baffert was denied a big-race double when his front-running Hejazi was mowed down by 18.60-1 longshot Lovesick Blues. The California-bred seven-year-old punched his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) while giving trainer Librado Barocio his first Grade 1 win.

San Diego H. (G2)

Baoma Corp.’s Nysos was making just the second route start of his career, and the first since launching his comeback as a four-year-old. But the son of 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) champion Nyquist had run away with his only prior two-turn race during his short-lived journey on the 2024 Triple Crown trail, in the Robert B. Lewis (G3). 

After resurfacing in May from a 15-month layoff, Nysos proved that he retained all of his exceptional talent with a pair of strong efforts at seven furlongs. Ring-rustiness arguably contributed to his dead-heat second in the Churchill Downs (G1) on Derby Day, and he rebounded in style in the May 31 Triple Bend (G3) at Santa Anita.

The time was right to stretch out for the 1 1/16-mile San Diego, the local stepping stone to the Aug. 30 Pacific Classic (G1). Looking further ahead, the Pacific Classic serves as a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) over the same 1 1/4-mile circuit at the seaside track.

Nysos figured to have an insurmountable class edge on Saturday, and jockey Flavien Prat rode him accordingly. Drawn on the rail, he settled a couple of lengths off the pace set by stablemate Mirahmadi in fractions of :23.49, :46.91, and 1:10.82. 

Favorite backers might have held their breath on the far turn, when Nysos was momentarily on hold in traffic. But a seam emerged when the stalking Tarantino could not hold his position, and Nysos drove right through it into the clear. Lengthening stride on cue, Nysos breezed home by 2 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:42.61.

Mirahmadi completed the all-Baffert exacta while easily best of the rest. Tarantino crossed the wire another 3 1/4 lengths back in third. Next came Hall of Fame and Express Train, who each made early bids on the backstretch, and the slow-starting Judge Miller. Midnight Mammoth was scratched.

Now 5-for-6, Nysos has bankrolled $598,500. The bay flashed potential right away with a 10 1/2-length debut romp at Santa Anita, followed by an 8 3/4-length stroll in the Bob Hope (G3). The Bob Lewis established his two-turn credentials, only for him to be sidelined for the remainder of his sophomore season. Nysos is beginning to fulfill those long-held hopes.

Bred by Susie Atkins in Kentucky, the $550,000 OBS April purchase is out of the unraced Bernardini mare Zetta Z. Nysos descends from Unbridled Elaine, the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) upsetter and herself a half-sister to fellow Grade 1-winning millionaire Glitter Woman. Unbridled Elaine produced Group/graded scorers Etched, Emotionless, and Out of Bounds, while Glitter Woman was responsible for Grade 1 victor Political Force. 

Bing Crosby (G1)

Last year’s San Diego winner, Dr. Venkman, opted to run in the six-furlong Bing Crosby rather than try to defend his title against Nysos. The “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint shaped up as a much more open race, and Lovesick Blues proved the point by delivering a $39.20 upset.

Patiently handled by Geovanni Franco, Lovesick Blues raced near the rear of the main body of the field early. Up front, Hejazi fired off an opening quarter in :21.78 while attended by Roll on Big Joe, Spirit of Makena, and Mbagnick. But Hejazi began to get away from them through a half in :44.48. Although Dr. Venkman and World Record, the 2.40-1 favorite, tried to get involved, Hejazi continued to hold sway deep into the stretch.

Then Lovesick Blues came charging into the picture on the outside. Blowing past Hejazi, the gray won going away by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:08.74.

World Record kept on for third, and Dr. Venkman rounded out the superfecta. Roll on Big Joe salvaged fifth from the flying Crazy Mason, who lagged hopelessly far behind early. Smooth Cruisein, Spirit of Makena, and Mbagnick completed the order under the wire.

Multiple stakes-placed on turf and dirt for his breeder Nick Alexander and original trainer Steve Miyadi, the Grazen gelding was acquired by Barocio’s Mia Familia Racing Stable ahead of his 2025 campaign. 

Lovesick Blues turned in a solid series of efforts in turf sprints for his new connections, placing in this spring’s San Simeon (G3) and Sensational Star S. before scoring his first stakes win in the Siren Lure S. Following a fourth in the June 14 Daytona (G3), Lovesick Blues employed the turf-to-dirt angle in the Bing Crosby. His record now stands at 41-9-10-8, $770,000.

Lovesick Blues is a half-brother to stakes winner Speedy Wilson. Their dam, Queenofhercastle, is a Ministers Wild Cat half-sister to multiple Grade 3 vixen Queen Bee to You, from the further family of Mitterand and her influential son, French Deputy.