Shaping up to be nothing more than a public workout, TDN Rising Star Nysos (Nyquist) appeared to scare off much of his competition in the GIII Bob Hope S. Holding true to form, the Baoma Corp. runner roared home a much-the-best winner in Sunday's feature at Del Mar. Getting blinkers off while trying to remain undefeated, the colt wasn't particularly hurried exiting Post 5, settling kindly at the back of the short four-horse field as Tejon Pass (Justify) and Mission Beach (Curlin) cut out a :22.34 opening quarter while Stronghold (Ghostzapper) and the 1-5 piping hot favorite stationed themselves within two lengths on the outside. With Tejon Pass soon beginning his retreat, Nysos collared the remaining pair through a half in :44.97. Passing the quarter pole, Mission Beach started to fall away as well while Nysos and Stronghold locked horns, poised for what appeared to be an epic stretch battle.
Inching ahead of Stronghold turning for home, Nysos was given the green light by Flavien Prat and the Bob Baffert trainee took off, cruising home an uncontested 8 3/4-length winner over Stronghold.
“With this being his second time out, you never know how they are going to react to it all but he was a real pro,” said Prat, accompanying the colt for the first time. “He broke well and relaxed well and showed rein on the lane. He kind of took a breather [early on] but I didn't want to get myself you know head and head with everybody else.”
Let go at 6-1 odds for his career debut at Santa Anita Oct. 21, the OBS graduate made short work of nine rivals while earning TDN Rising Stardom in the six-furlong event.
“He's a real quiet colt,” said Baffert. “He was real quiet in the paddock but Prat said once he got behind the gate, he just turned it on.”
Explaining the decision to lose the hood following the colt's tour-de-force debut win, Baffert added, “I took the blinkers off of him, so he would relax. Last time, he went out there [on the lead] and I didn't want to see that again. He handled it like a pro and did everything right. It's tough for a horse, after a big race to come back and do it again.”
Pedigree Notes:
Holding the distinction for being the first TDN Rising Star for his sire, Nysos gives the son of Uncle Mo his 10th graded/group winner. The winner's unraced dam, Zetta Z, is already responsible for stakes-placed Attabe (Distorted Humor). The mare sold for $35,000 carrying a Street Sense filly at Keeneland November in 2021. After foaling a colt by Yaupon this season, she was bred back to Cyberknife. The $550,000 OBS graduate's third dam is GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Unbridled Elaine (Unbridled's Song), the dam of a trio of graded stakes winners, including MGSW Etched (Forestry).
Sunday, Del Mar
BOB HOPE S.-GIII, $98,000, Del Mar, 11-19, 2yo, 7f, 1:21.71, ft.
1–NYSOS, 120, c, 2, by Nyquist
1st Dam: Zetta Z, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Seresa's Spirit, by Rahy
3rd Dam: Unbridled Elaine, by Unbridled's Song
*TDN Rising Star* 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($130,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $550,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Baoma Corp; B-Atkins Susie (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Flavien
Prat. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $96,600. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
2–Stronghold, 120, c, 2, Ghostzapper–Spectator, by Jimmy
Creed. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Eric
and Sharon Waller (KY); T-Philip D'Amato. $20,000.
3–Tejon Pass, 120, c, 2, Justify–Foxysox (GB), by Foxhound.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Williamson
Racing LLC; B-Williamson Racing, LLC (KY); T-Peter Miller. $12,000.
Margins: 8 3/4, 3 1/4, 16. Odds: 0.20, 4.50, 15.60.
Also Ran: Mission Beach. Scratched: Wine Me Up.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
NYSOS ($2.40) CRUSHED 'EM! INCREDIBLE!
Flavien Prat just hand rode him home in the $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at @DelMarRacing for trainer @BobBaffert. What an exciting son of @DarleyAmerica's Nyquist!
Bet the last race at Del Mar: https://t.co/vBc9pBedT0 pic.twitter.com/R9LpdwOJsE
— TVG (@TVG) November 20, 2023
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