Baffert is gearing up undefeated Nysos for a return to racing

Trainer Bob Baffert is preparing undefeated Nysos for his return after a year away from racing.

Nysos, unraced since Feb. 3 and unworked since Oct. 10, returned to the worktab Thursday at Santa Anita with a four-furlong move in 48.8 seconds.

Baffert told Horse Racing Nation in a text message that he has no race in mind for the Baoma Corp. colt's 4-year-old debut. 

"The goal is to get him back to the races when he is ready," Baffert said Thursday afternoon.

Nysos has not raced since winning the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes about this time last year. That win ran the Nyquist colt's unbeaten streak to three by a combined 26 3/4 lengths. He worked twice in February after the Lewis, then took a break before returning to go four furlongs on Oct. 10 at Santa Anita in 47.6 seconds. Thursday's work was his first since.

Because Baffert could not compete in the Kentucky Derby last year, Nysos was being pointed for the Preakness Stakes and was the futures-book favorite for that race before being sidelined. Baffert now can run his horses at Churchill Downs Inc.-owned tracks, so something like the Alysheba Stakes (G2) during Derby week could be in play.

Speaking of the Lewis Stakes,, Baffert confirmed that all three of his entrants in this year's edition, champion Citizen Bull, Madaket Road and Rodriguez, will start.