Santa Anita: Nysos, Dr. Venkman clash in Saturday sprint feature

Grade 2 winners Nysos and Dr. Venkman will meet for the first time Saturday when they go postward for the Grade 3, $100,000 Triple Bend going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

Nysos recently returned from a 15-month layoff when dead-heating for second in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 3. Trained by Bob Baffert, Nysos raced in mid-pack that day before rallying in the stretch to lose by just a neck. It was his first defeat in four career starts.

A 4-year-old Nyquist colt, Nysos has worked twice since his comeback effort including a five-furlong bullet move in 59.20 seconds Friday at Santa Anita. Prior to the layoff, he won the Robert B. Lewis (G3) in February 2024 at Santa Anita and the Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar in 2023. The Baoma Corp. colorbearer will have jockey Juan Hernandez aboard for the first time.

Dr. Venkman, trained by Mark Glatt, will be making his first start since finishing fourth in the Pacific Classic (G1) last August at Del Mar. In last year’s edition of the Triple Bend, Dr. Venkman finished second to winner Happy Jack. Following that effort, Dr. Venkman came back to earn his lone graded stakes in the San Diego Handicap (G2) going 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar.

A 5-year-old gelding by Ghostzapper, Dr. Venkman is 6: 3-2-0 with $418,500 in earnings for owners Alipony Racing, Dan J. Agnew, Clint Bunch and James Hailey. He’ll be ridden by Antonio Fresu, who was aboard for all three of his starts last year.

Spirit of Makena is back in the Triple Bend after winning it in 2023. Trained by George Papaprodromou, Spirit of Makena recently returned from an 18-month layoff in the San Carlos (G3) on March 29 and finished a promising third. The 7-year-old horse by Ghostzapper enters with a record of 9: 4-1-1 and $365,600 in earnings for owner Kirstine M. Chandler. He’ll be ridden by Kyle Frey, who was also aboard in the San Carlos.