Trainer Bob Baffert said that Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Nysos is leaving Kentucky July 18 and heading to California to run in the Aug. 22 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar.
The $1 million Pacific Classic will be contested at the same 1 1/4-mile distance as the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), the year-end goal for the son of Nyquist .
"It was thinking of running him to the Whitney Stakes (Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course) but I switched gears and will send him to California. I want to run him once before the Breeders' Cup and if I had run in the Whitney, I would have to run him again. I don't want to do too much shipping," Baffert said.
Nysos, owned by Baoma Corp and the Coolmore partners, has won eight of 10 career starts with earnings of more than $5.2 million.
Baffert also enjoyed watching Godolphin's Knightsbridge, who was second by 4 lengths to Nysos in the Met Mile, win by 10 1/4 lengths in Saturday's Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3) at the New Jersey track.
"That says a lot about how good Nysos is," he said.
Baffert said he is also sending Cornucopian to Del Mar to run in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) July 25.
