Head to Head: Nysos faces other graded winners at Santa Anita

Ashley

Laurie

1.  Vlahos (10-1)

Vlahos is a Greek surname meaning vlach, which often refers to the Romanized, pastoral populations in the Balkans. Trained by Doug O'Neill, Vlahos the colt enters off a fourth-place effort in a blanket finish of a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer. Prior to that, he was fifth in the San Carlos (G3). Vlahos likes to set the early tempo but has a difficult time closing the deal. Regular rider Edwin Maldonado has the mount. Pass.

A winner of two lifetime, Vlahos last had his photo taken in January’s restricted Clocker’s Corner Stakes. Otherwise, his record shows a history of brief bursts of early speed before fading like a bad spray tan. Pass.

2.  Nysos (3-5)

Trained by Bob Baffert, lightly raced Nysos just missed in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) off a 17-month layoff. Nysos settled in mid-pack early and went wide off the far turn, with the front-running four stacked across the track. He steadily gained ground throughout the stretch drive and was part of a wild finish that saw the top four necks apart, with Nysos and Banishing in a dead heat for second. Although it was Nysos’s first career defeat, you can’t take anything away from him. First off, a Grade 1 on a sloppy track after a 17-month layoff … just wow. He had every excuse and needed none of them. J.J. Hernandez gets the mount for the first time. Top choice.

Brilliant yet fragile, Nysos dominated the California scene in his first trio of starts by a combined 16 1/4 lengths. After a lengthy break, the Bob Baffert trainee returned in the Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Although he tasted defeat for the first time, it was an excellent effort, finishing second in a thrilling three-way photo. Nysos has been firing bullets in the morning, including a pre-race five-furlong move in 59.2 seconds. Working solo, Nysos did it on his own without being pushed or asked for his best. Contender.

3.  Spirit of Makena (12-1)

Trained by George Papaprodromou, Spirit of Makena most recently was third in the San Carlos (G3). It was the 7-year-old’s first start in 18 months. He ran huge in defeat, leading at the top of the stretch before being edged out for the top two spots. He did win the 2023 rendition of this race, his last victory, before tailing off badly in his next three starts. Kyle Frey has the return call. Live long shot.

Spirit of Makena hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since he won the 2023 edition of the Triple Bend. Sometime between May and July of that year, the 7-year-old lost his spark. Trainer George Papaprodromou gave him an extended vacation until this March, which seemed to help. Spirit of Makena returned in the seven-furlong San Carlos (G3). He pressed the pace while traveling wide through early fractions of 22.30, 45.34, and 1:10.59. He got a little tired at the end, but Spirit of Makena hung in there and finished third, bested 1 1/4 lengths.

He recorded a 99 Brisnet Speed Rating and a 94 late-pace figure, comparable to his effort in last year’s San Carlos (G3). Long shot chance.

4.  Smooth Cruisein (6-1)

Trained by Karen Headley, Smooth Cruisein had no answer to California’s top Kentucky Derby prospects this winter. But Headly tried him against his elders in a mid-level optional claimer, and he came away victorious. It was a career-best effort, earning a 104 Equibase speed figure. That race was contested on a sloppy track, which is very unusual for California. Headley is 0% across the board in graded stakes in the last five years, including this colt, who finished fourth and fifth in fields of five. Tiago Pereira has the return call. Pass.

Between winning his debut and an optional-claiming allowance dontest, Smooth Cruisein was no threat to Barnes and our Preakness hero Journalism in a pair of graded stakes on the Derby trail. The 3-year-old splashed six furlongs over Santa Anita’s sloppy track in 1:09.56, completing his final furlong in a sharp 12.37. The  Karen Headley trainee’s speed ratings and late-pace figures have risen in each start this year and although he’s facing older, more experienced rivals, Smooth Cruisen has the benefit of a recent race and can improve off the effort. But he needs to prove he can run with the big boys. Pass.

5.  Dr. Venkman (2-1)

Trained by Mark Glatt, Dr. Venkman will be making his first start since finishing fourth in the Pacific Classic (G1) on Aug. 31. It was the lightly raced gelding’s only finish outside the exacta in his six-race career, and the distance might have been a factor. This is the second significant layoff of Dr. Venkman’s career, but Glatt is 17% wins with a 50% in-the-money rate, with runners first off a 6+ month layoff. Antonio Fresu has the call. Exotics.

Dr. Venkman slimed the field by a length in the San Diego Handicap (G2) last July before finishing a nondescript fourth in the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (G1). He ghosted the racing scene until now, and he gets back to a more comfortable seven furlongs. The Mark Glatt trainee is capable of throwing double-digit speed ratings and hopes to improve on last year’s Triple Bend runner-up finish. Exotics.