Nysos superb again in Bob Hope S. (G3)
Nysos left his competition far behind in Sunday’s $100,000 Bob Hope S. (G3), rolling to an 8 ¾-length victory under a hand ride under Flavien Prat.
The colt may be the most exciting 2-year-old prospect in the Bob Baffert barn; undefeated in two starts by a combined 19 ¼-lengths. Sunday’s Beyer Speed Figure of 97 is the highest at the seven-furlong distance for any 2-year-old in 2023.
Nysos faced just three foes in Sunday’s race. He took back slightly off the pace and was fourth, but just two lengths from the front after a quarter mile. He began to edge closer to the front going into the turn. In the three path around the bend, Nysos was side-by-side with Stronghold with a quarter mile to run. Without any urging, Nysos bounded away from his foes and sauntered under the wire the easiest of winners in 1:21.71 on a fast track.
“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. 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.”
Nysos is owned by the Baoma Corp and has earned $96,600 in his two victories.