Nysos, owned by Boama Corp., made a significant impact on the first Saturday in February, despite not being a contender for the Kentucky Derby in May.
The talented three-year-old accelerated off the final turn and coasted to a remarkable 7 ½ length victory in Santa Anita's Grade III, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Jockeyed by Flavien Prat, Nysos remained unbeaten in three starts and completed a flat mile in 1:36.65.
The Robert B. Lewis Stakes holds great importance as a prep race for both the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies. With a total of 42 Kentucky Derby qualifying points up for grabs, the winner of the Lewis Stakes earns 20 points, while the second, third, fourth, and fifth-place finishers receive 10, 6, 4, and 2 points respectively.
Trainer Bob Baffert, an influential figure in dirt racing, secured an impressive sixth consecutive victory in the Lewis Stakes, adding to his overall record of 11 wins in the race. The event is named after one of Baffert's primary clients from the 1990s and early 2000s, who, along with his wife Beverly, owned Baffert's first Kentucky Derby winner, Silver Charm, in 1997.
Nysos showcased his abilities in his first two-turn race, benefiting from an ideal trip as early pace-setters Wine Me Up and Scatify battled for the lead. Positioned fourth, Nysos maintained a distance of about 4 1 ⁄ 2 lengths behind Scatify as they approached the halfway mark. Jockey Prat urged Nysos to pick up the pace around the far turn, resulting in a smooth inside move past a tiring McVay. Nysos then made a three-wide move at the top of the stretch, easily overtaking both Scatify and Wine Me Up to secure a comfortable victory.
Having previously won the Grade III Bob Hope Stakes by a commanding 8 ¾ lengths over seven furlongs at Del Mar on November 19, Nysos demonstrated his exceptional talent in sprint races. With his two sprint victories totalling a remarkable 20-length margin, Nysos entered the Robert B. Lewis Stakes as the overwhelming 1-9 favourite. The colt returned payouts of $2.20 for a win, and $2.10 for both place and show.
Nysos was purchased for $550,000 at a two-year-old in training sale in April. Owned by Baoma Corp., the colt earned a substantial winner's share of $120,000, bringing his total earnings to $216,000.