Del Mar: Baffert wins with Nysos in San Diego & Brant in debut
Spotting the rest of the field 3-6 pounds, Bob Baffert-trained, odds-on favorite Nysos (1-9) found clear running down the homestretch on his way to an in-hand, 2 3/4-length triumph Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.
The victory was the fifth in six career starts and the fourth in a graded stakes for the 4-year-old Nyquist colt bought for $550,000 two years ago by Baoma Corp. It was the first time Nysos raced farther than a mile.
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Ridden by Flavien Prat, Nysos spotted stablemate Mirahmadi (16-1) 2 1/2 lengths on the backstretch, racing fourth in the field of six 3-year-olds and up. Mirahmadi set fractions of 23.49, 46.91 and 1:10.82 through the first six furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile race.
After racing along the rail throughout, Prat finally found room and tipped out between horses to seize the lead in mid-stretch. After a mile in 1:36.30, he cruised through the wire with a final time of 1:42.61 on the fast main track.
Mirahmadi finished second, Tarantino (57-1) third and Hall of Fame (9-2) fourth.
Nysos paid $2.20, $2.10 and $2.10; Mirahmadi $5.80 and $4.60; and Tarantino $7.40.
$3 million Brant debuts with win
Carrying the weighty expectations that came with his $3 million price tag, Brant powered his way to a 5 1/4-length debut victory for Baffert and owner Amr Zedan in the fourth race Saturday.
Ridden by Prat, Brant (4-5) broke sharply and raced in third up the backstretch, trailing Civil Liberty (5-1) and stablemate Balboa (3-1) through an opening quarter-mile of 21.56 seconds.
Brant began to make up ground circling the leaders in the turn. By the time the field of nine maiden 2-year-olds reached the half-mile in 44.78 seconds, he had the lead and was drawing away through five-eighths in 56.46 seconds to a final time of 1:02.63.
Civil Liberty held for second, Balboa came in third, and Intrepido (24-1) finished fourth. Brant paid $3.60 for a $2 win ticket.
By Gun Runner out of Liam’s Map mare Tynan, Brant was bred by the Haughey family’s PTK stable in Kentucky. He fetched the highest bid of any horse at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales auction in March.