Nysos placed himself in the conversation as best older race horse in the United States and maybe the world with an authoritative win in the Metropolitan Mile on Belmont Stakes Day. The potential seen in some of previous race days spoke of his quality, but this Bob Baffert trainee really showed his class on the same afternoon Golden Tempo made history. As Thoroughbreds begin there run towards the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, Nysos is one of the horses on the lead.
Versatile Horsepower On Display At Saratoga In Latest Win
The grade 1 Met Mile has long been one of the most prestigious prizes in the older horse division of Thoroughbred racing. Inaugurated in 1891, this “stallion maker” was again loaded with talent in 2026. Breaking from the rail in this one-turn mile, Nysos immediately assumed the lead with powerful strides right out of the gate. As the pace quickened, jockey Flavien Prat maintained his position on the rail while allowing graded stakes winners Antiquarian, Saudi Crown, and Knightsbridge to roll on by as the seven-horse field moved down the backstretch.
With closers behind him and speed in front, Nysos moved into the far turn with his work cut out. Steering to the outside, Prat downshifted and hit the gas pedal. With the turbo engaged, Nysos retook the lead at the top of the stretch. Accelerating down the lane with authority, this son of Nyquist left the others eating dirt and breathing fumes in a big way. At the eighth pole the race was essentially over and the only question remaining was just “by how much”. Winning by a widening four lengths over Knightsbridge, who was clear by 3 ¾ lengths from the rest of the runners, Nysos was much the best.
“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”, says Bob Baffert, who has more grade 1 wins than any other trainer in history. “Prat rode the horse beautifully against a very talented group. You can only do it that way and win if you have a Ferrari.”
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.
“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.
