TDN RISING STARS

October 21, 2023 - Santa Anita, Race 9, Msw, USD $61,000, 6F, .0000

Nysos, C, 2, 2021 by Nyquist

1st Dam: Zetta Z, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Seresa's Spirit, by Rahy
3rd Dam: Unbridled Elaine, by Unbridled's Song

Owner: Baoma Corp.
Breeder: Atkins Susie (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert

Nysos (c, 2, Nyquist-Zetta Z, by Bernardini), a $550,000 OBS April breezer (:9 4/5*), made that pricetag look like a bargain with a jaw-dropping 'TDN Rising Star' performance on debut in the Santa Anita nightcap Saturday evening.

One of three entered for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the 6-1 chance had a pair of bullets on the worktab, including a four-furlong move in :47 1/5 (1/16) Oct. 12.

He was hustled away from his inside draw by Kyle Frey and slugged it out from the outside with his rail-drawn stablemate and $1.3-million OBS April graduate Urban Legend (Into Mischief) heading into the far turn. Always traveling the better of the pair, Nysos took over with authority leaving the quarter pole and opened daylight from there to win by 10 1/2 lengths, stopping the timer for six furlongs in a very sharp 1:08.97. Urban Legend, off at odds of 3-1, stayed on for second.

Nysos becomes the first 'Rising Star' for Nyquist. The Nyquist x Bernardini cross is also responsible for GISW Gretzky the Great, already one of four top-level winners for his young sire.

The winner's unraced dam, a $35,000 purchase by Three Times A Charm while in foal to Street Sense at the 2021 KEENOV sale, had a filly by Street Sense in 2022 and a colt by Yaupon this year. She was bred back to Cyberknife.

Nysos's third dam is GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Unbridled Elaine (Unbridled's Song).