Nysos (Nyquist – Zetta Z, by Bernardini) added to his accomplished resume with an overpowering performance in the Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga Race Course on June 6 to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.
(Mathea Kelley photo)
With his victory in the Met Mile, the 5-year-old son of Nyquist earned a chance to defend his title in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland Race Course Oct. 31 through the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series.
Nysos, owned by Charles and Susan Chu’s Baoma Corp and the Coolmore partners of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, has now won eight of his 10 races and has never been worse than second. He boosted his earnings to $5,288,500 with the $550,000 winner’s share of the purse.
“He’s good; a great horse,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert told NYRA publicity. “That was a tough bunch. I’m just so happy for the owners. They let me take my time with this horse and get him ready. I’m just happy that he ran his race. He’s one of the smartest horses I’ve ever trained. He’s really smart, quiet and cool.”
Nysos was purchased for $550,000 out of the Best A Luck Farm consignment by Donato Lanni, Agent for Baoma Corp at the 2023 OBS April Sale after breezing in :9 4/5.
At Saratoga on June 5, West Point Thoroughbreds’ Counting Stars (Honor A.P.- Paynterbynumbers, by Paynter) turned the tables on Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Always a Runner with a 3 3/4-length score in Friday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn Stakes.
Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Counting Stars previously captured the Grade 2 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park in March. Casse said the filly will likely look to improve her credentials in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama on Aug. 22 at Saratoga.
Counting Stars was purchased by her owners at the 2025 OBS April Sale for $150,000 from the Wildheart Thoroughbreds consignment after breezing in :10 flat.
At Churchill Downs June 7, Spendthrift Farm’s Further Ado (Gun Runner- Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa) returned to his winning ways with a two-length triumph in the $489,665 Matt Winn Stakes (G3).
Further Ado, trained by Brad Cox, clocked 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:41.26, which was the second-fastest Matt Winn only behind his sire Gun Runner’s 1:41.12 in 2016. He previously captured the $1.25 million Blue Grass (G1) in April and bolstered his bankroll to $1,446,958.
Further Ado was purchased by Spendthrift at the 2025 OBS April Sale for $550,000 from the Six K’s Training & Sales consignment after breezing in :21 1/5.
At Saratoga on June 4, Mo Speed Racing’s West End Kid (Twirling Candy- To a Friend, by Scat Daddy) brought his win streak to three-in-a-row with a successful stakes debut the Grade 3, $300,000 Pennine Ridge.
Trained by Will Walden, the son of Twirling Candy was a $350,000 purchase by his owners at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the Navas Equine consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.
The June 4 card at Saratoga also saw Spendthrift Farm’s Goodall (Yaupon-Moon Over Mag Bay, by Malibu Moon) earn a 2 3/4-length score in the $175,000 Jersey Girl on Day Two of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Goodall was purchased by Spendthrift for $525,000 at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Tom McCrocklin after breezing in :20 2/5.
At Churchill Downs June 6, Doncho (Mo Town – Sassy Redhead, by Henny Hughes) ran down defending race winner Joe Shiesty in deep stretch to win the $224,500 Mighty Beau Stakes (Listed) by three-quarters of a length in course record time.
Doncho, trained by Michelle Lovell, ran five furlongs on firm turf in a course and stakes record :55.01 to collect his third career stakes win for owner Jose A. Lopez’s JAL Racing LLC. Consigned by GOP Racing Stable Corp. to the 2023 OBS June Sale, Doncho was purchased by his owners for $72,000 after breezing in :9 4/5.
At Gulfstream Park June 6, JSM Equine LLC’s Haute Diva (Constitution – Diva Style, by Unbridled’s Song) ran up to her potential with a last-to-first rally in the $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes.
Returning from a two-month freshening, the Patrick Biancone-trained daughter of Constitution prevailed by a half-length. Haute Diva was offered by Wavertree Stables at the 2025 OBS April Sale where she failed to meet her reserve after breezing in :10 flat.
At Saratoga on June 3, Michael Dubb’s Sculcos Folly (Redesdale- Cool Johanna, by Johannesburg) won his fourth straight race, and third in stakes company, with an authoritative 5 1/2-length romp in the $200,000 Mike Lee on New York Showcase Day.
Sculcos Folly has won his last four outings by a combined 29 1/2-lengths.Trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr., the son of Redesdale was a $70,000 purchase by Chad Schumer at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the Omar Ramirez Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :10 flat.
At Century Mile on May 30, Avana (Vino Rosso- Revealing Moment, by After Market) earned her 10th career stakes victory in the $50,000 RedTail Landing for owners Bryan and Carol Anne Anderson, Rick Orman, William Decoursey, Greg Palmer, and Denise Praill.
Trained by Barbara Heads, the daughter of Vino Rosso was purchased by Mike Ryan, agent for $150,000 out of the consignment of Cary Frommer at the 2023 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 2/5.