Nysos uncorked a powerful burst of speed turning for home on his way to cruising to a four-length victory in the $1 million, G1 Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga on Saturday, June 6.
The runner-up finish by Knightsbridge completed a noteworthy exacta for their sire, Nyquist. The Met Mile win was the second G1 victory for Nysos, who also captured the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last year.
It was the third Met Mile win for both trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Flavien Prat. The victory pushed Nysos past $5 million in earnings.
Breaking from the inside post from the Wilson chute, Nysos (7-5) carried top weight of 126 pounds and moved quickly to the lead through an opening quarter-mile in :23.52. Prat relaxed the 5-year-old up the backstretch, conceding the advantage to Saudi Crown and then Antiquarian through a half-mile in :45.61.
With plenty of horse beneath him, Prat tipped Nysos to the outside as Knightsbridge, who had taken a slight lead, got the first six furlongs in 1:09.49. By then Nysos had a full head of steam as he drew away through seven furlongs at 1:21.81 on his way to a final time of 1:34.85 on the fast main track.
That was only 0.13 seconds off the course record set by Key Contender in 1992.
Bred in Kentucky by Susie Atkins, Nysos is out of the mare Zetta Z, an unraced daughter of Bernardini. A half-brother to the Stakes-placed filly, Attabe (Distorted Humor), Nysos hails from the immediate family of G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner, Unbridled Elaine and Graded Stakes winners Etched (G2), Emotionless (G2), Deloraine (G3), and Out Of Bounds (G3).
Nyquist now has nine Stakes winners to his credit this year, including Graded Stakes winners Knightsbridge (a three-time Graded Stakes winner in 2026), Growth Equity (G3 Peter Pan), Iron Honor (G3 Gotham Stakes), and David of Athens (G3 Jebel Ali Mile).
Nyquist is standing the 2026 season at Jonabell Farm for $175,000, stands and nurses.
