The partnership of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith has secured an interest in Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos, with the five-year-old set to continue racing in partnership with Baoma Corporation through the 2026 season before retiring to Ashford Stud. The move ensures one of North America’s most accomplished dirt performers of recent seasons will remain on the track for another campaign before beginning his stallion career.

By Nyquist and out of the multiple stakes-producing mare Zetta Z, Nysos was bred in Kentucky by Susie Atkins. Trained throughout his career by Bob Baffert, he quickly established himself as one of the most talented horses of his generation.

His arrival on the national stage came as a two-year-old when he produced a 10½-length maiden victory at Santa Anita, a performance that earned him TDN Rising Star status. He followed that display with an 8½-length success in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes, immediately marking himself as a colt of considerable potential.

Nysos carried that momentum into his three-year-old season. A dominant 7½-length victory in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes elevated him among the leading sophomores in the United States. However, a minor setback interrupted his campaign and ultimately prevented him from taking part in the Triple Crown series.

After an absence of nearly 15 months, Nysos returned at four and was beaten only a neck in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes. That defeat would prove to be his only loss of the season. He subsequently compiled victories in a Grade 3 contest and two Grade 2 races before delivering the defining performance of his career in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

In that championship event, Nysos prevailed by a head over Citizen Bull following a prolonged stretch battle, while multiple Grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick finished third. The victory cemented his standing among the elite dirt horses in training.

His current campaign began on the international stage in the Grade 1 Saudi Cup, where he finished second to Japanese star Forever Young. The performance prompted Baffert to famously compare the contest to “King Kong versus Godzilla,” underlining the quality of the duel between the two horses.

Nysos returned to the United States and enhanced his résumé further with victory in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga. Defeating a high-class field in one of North America's most prestigious races for older dirt horses added another Grade 1 success to his record.

From 10 career starts, Nysos has compiled eight wins and two second-place finishes and has earned more than $5 million in prize money. Notably, he has never finished outside the first two.

Owners Reflect on Nysos’s Impact

For Baoma Corporation principals Susan and Charles Chu, the horse's significance extends beyond his accomplishments on the racetrack. Reflecting on the partnership with Coolmore and the next phase of Nysos’s career, Susan Chu emphasized the personal importance of the horse.

“Nysos represents a true milestone for Charles and me. He means far more to us than exceptional racing success. Through him, we have learned patience and perseverance, and we are deeply grateful to Bob Baffert for developing him into one of our outstanding racing stars and guiding him throughout his remarkable career.

“We are equally delighted that Coolmore, one of the most respected and successful stallion operations in the world, will manage the next chapter of Nysos’s journey. He will have every opportunity to make a significant impact as a stallion, and we are committed to supporting him with our very best stakes-winning mares. We look forward to watching his legacy continue for generations to come.”

Baffert’s Long-Held View Confirmed

Following Nysos’s victory in the Met Mile, Baffert reiterated the regard in which he has always held the horse.

“What a talented horse. I always thought he’s one of the best older horses in training and today he showed it.”

With Coolmore now involved and Ashford Stud awaiting his arrival, Nysos will continue racing through the 2026 Breeders’ Cup before beginning the next chapter of a career that has already placed him among the standout dirt performers of his era.