Kentucky Derby prep: Nysos leads 5 in Sunday’s San Felipe

Considered by many to be America’s most talented 3-year-old, Bob Baffert’s undefeated Nysos leads a field of five going 1 1/16 miles in Sunday’s Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

With Nysos and all other Baffert trainees ineligible to run in this year’s Kentucky Derby, Nysos will likely eye the Preakness Stakes next on May 18 with a stop in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 6 a possibility as well.

A 10 1/2-length first-out maiden winner going six furlongs here on Oct. 21, Nysos came back to take Del Mar’s Bob Hope (G3) at seven panels by 8 3/4 lengths Nov. 19. Off at 1-10 versus six rivals going a flat mile in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) on Feb. 3, Nysos rated kindly in his first two-turn assignment and destroyed the competition, winning by 7 1/2 lengths and earning a tremendous 105 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form.

One of three Baffert entrants, Nysos, who is by 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist out of the Bernardini mare Zetta Z, has won his three starts by a combined 26 3/4 lengths and will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Flavien Prat.

A $550,000 purchase as a 2-year-old in April, 2023, Nysos is owned by Baoma Corp and will attempt to give Baffert his record ninth score in the Derby prep.

Second by 7 1/2 lengths to Nysos in the Lewis, Baffert’s Wine Me Up likely will be the second choice in the San Felipe wagering. Owned by longtime clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Wine Me Up, a first-out maiden winner at six furlongs Sept. 2, was subsequently second behind talented stablemate Muth in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at 1 1/16 miles here on Oct. 7.

Well beaten at 22-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 3, he was then fourth at 9-5 in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) two starts back on Dec. 16.

With Juan Hernandez up for the third consecutive time on Sunday, Wine Me Up has good natural speed and with a career-best 92 Beyer in-hand from his second place run in the Lewis, will hope to turn the tables in his fifth consecutive two-turn assignment.

A one-mile gate-to-wire maiden winner in his third start on Jan. 1, Baffert’s Imagination, a hard-fought second at the same distance in a first condition allowance Feb. 11, has three seconds and the maiden win from four starts and could be on the early lead Sunday as Frankie Dettori tries his hand for the first time.

Purchased for $1,050,000 as a yearling, Imagination is by Into Mischief out of the Empire Maker mare Magical Feeling. Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Racing, et al, Imagination earned an 89 Beyer in his most recent start and appears on the improve.