Nysos Set for Return in Santa Anita Sprint Test

The Santa Anita Sprint Championship graded sprint test of the winter-spring meet, is set for Saturday with the Grade II Triple Bend Stakes. Although only five horses are entered, the field features runners with solid records and past success at this level. Bob Baffert trained Nysos horse headlines the group and will return to the track with Juan Hernandez in the saddle.

Nysos horse, now 4, made a strong impression last season and returns to a setting where he previously showed his potential. His presence adds weight to a field that includes contenders coming back from layoffs, titleholders, and stable entries looking to build momentum.

Dr. Venkman is back for his first race as a 5-year-old at Santa Anita. It looks to be a tough Sprint test race. Mark Glatt trains him, and Antonio Fresu will ride. He has not run since last year, but he still looks good. He will race with Spirit of Makena, the 2023 race king, who returns with Kyle Frey and George Papaprodromou. This Sprint test race also has Practical Move and Howbeit, both strong from big races, who might do well based on how the race goes.

This Sunday’s races at Santa Anita also include the Grade III Desert Stormer Stakes. There are only four fillies and mares running, but they are all top-notch. Sweet Azteca is back after a break and a team change, now with Richard Baltas and meeting up again with jockey Juan Hernandez. She last ran in 2023, so this Sprint test will show how she’s doing now.

Chismosa is another main runner. Trained by Rafael DeLeon and riding with Kyle Frey, she won this event earlier in 2024 and keeps racing well at Santa Anita. The other two might push the front, but all eyes will be on Sweet Azteca and how she fits in her new spot in this Sprint test.

The weekend races are gearing up for the fall races and are good prep for those aiming for events like the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, where quick moves matter. Many in this field, with past wins and big race know-how, might aim for the Santa Anita Sprint Championship if they do well this weekend.

Santa Anita’s place in the Breeders’ Cup rotation also drew attention this week. While Keeneland and Belmont Park have been selected to host the 2026 and 2027 events respectively, Santa Anita Sprint Championship has not confirmed whether it submitted a formal bid. Track officials did issue a statement saying that discussions regarding future hosting opportunities are ongoing. Del Mar is scheduled to host the 2025 edition on October 31 and November 1. With the selections for 2026 and 2027, this marks the first time since 2010–11 that California venues were not chosen for two consecutive years.

Attention is also building for the Belmont Stakes, which will be held June 7 at Saratoga Race Course due to ongoing construction at Belmont Park. Post positions and odds will be announced Monday. Six horses are currently listed as probable for entry. Included are Journalism, who won the Preakness and came in second in the Kentucky Derby, and Sovereignty, who grabbed the win in the Kentucky Derby but did not run in the Preakness. Baeza, who placed third in the Derby, is also expected to run. Additional entries include Rodriguez, Hill Road, and Heart of Honor. This year’s edition may not include a Triple Crown contender, but the top three finishers from Churchill Downs will meet again in what looks like a balanced group.

Also of note at the Santa Anita Sprint Championship this weekend is Kendrick Carmouche’s selection as the 2024 recipient of the George Woolf Memorial Award. The veteran jockey will be honored in a ceremony on Saturday. The award is given annually by Santa Anita Sprint Test Championship and selected by jockeys across the country, recognizing professional and personal conduct. Carmouche, based in New York, is scheduled to ride in seven races across the weekend.

Last Sunday, Seismic Beauty added a new mark to the 2025 calendar with a five-length win in the Santa Margarita Stakes. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Antonio Fresu, the filly completed the 1 1⁄8-mile race in 1:48.30. Her performance earned a 104 Beyer speed figure, the highest this year for a female in a race over one mile, according to the Daily Horse Racing Form.

As the meet nears its end, this weekend’s stakes races bring together returning names and current titleholders. Nysos horse and Sweet Azteca face different sprint tests, one returning to a familiar surface, the other making a first start under a new trainer, but both will shape the close of Santa Anita’s spring calendar.