The sun-soaked stands of Del Mar erupted in a mix of cheers and disbelief on Saturday as Nysos, owned by Baoma Corp., clawed his way past his stablemate Citizen Bull in the final strides to claim the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). The margin was a mere head — but the emotional weight of the victory felt far greater.
Ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Bob Baffert, Nysos stopped the clock at 1:34.71 over a fast track, earning Baffert his second Breeders’ Cup win of the weekend and an astounding 21st overall, tying him with Aidan O’Brien for the most Breeders’ Cup victories in history. For Prat, it marked his ninth career Breeders’ Cup triumph and his second in this year’s Dirt Mile — another testament to his uncanny sense of timing.
A Battle of Stablemates Down the Stretch
As the gates flew open, Citizen Bull, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, wasted no time asserting himself on the front end. Pressured early by Full Serrano (ARG) and Touch of Destiny (URU), he set sharp fractions of :21.74 and :44.96, testing the stamina of his rivals.
Meanwhile, Prat kept Nysos tucked neatly along the rail — conserving energy, waiting for his chance. On the far turn, as Citizen Bull turned back his initial challengers, Prat guided Nysos off the fence and began to close with each stride. The two stablemates drew level in a dramatic stretch duel that had the Del Mar crowd on its feet. Only in the final few yards did Nysos edge clear — by a head.
“He hadn’t run in a while, but he dug in,” said Baffert, beaming after the race. “Citizen Bull caught another gear and Nysos just wouldn’t give up. It should have been a dead heat! They were on their bellies — what a race. It’s a shame one of them had to lose.”
Prat Delivers Another Perfect Ride
For Flavien Prat, the victory was a study in patience and timing.
“I was traveling well and knew the pace was strong,” he reflected. “When I got in the clear, I thought I had the measure of Citizen Bull — but he made me work for it. At the wire, I felt I was ahead, but it was close enough to worry me.”
Citizen Bull’s rider Juan Hernandez echoed the pride of a near-miss.
“He loves to run, especially on the lead,” he said. “He gave everything — when he saw the outside horse, he tried to come back again. He’s a warrior. Congrats to Bob and the team. We’ll be back.”
A Star Returns to Form
For Nysos, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Nyquist out of the Bernardini mare Zetta Z, the Dirt Mile marked his sixth win in seven starts and his first Grade 1 success — a long-awaited breakthrough for a horse many have long considered a rising star. The win added $520,000 to his bankroll, pushing his total earnings to $1,118,500.
Even for a trainer accustomed to Breeders’ Cup glory, this one carried emotion. “You just want to be able to cheer for them coming down the stretch,” said Baffert, smiling. “That’s why we do it.”
