For weeks now, everyone in the horse racing scene has been buzzing about what’s going on with the talented colt Nysos. After getting scratched as the morning-line favorite from the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on August 30 because of a bruise in his hind foot, the Bob Baffert-trained star hasn’t been seen on the worktab. The community began to wonder about how serious the situation was and if Nyquist’s 4-year-old son would be ready to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on November 1. Nysos not being nominated for important prep races like the September 27 Goodwood Stakes has definitely made the critics more vocal.

However, Baffert did share an update Nysos before, stating, “He’s training. We’re still shooting for it.” And recently, all those doubts were finally cleared up when the @sdhorserace on X shared the news that the horse racing industry had been eagerly anticipating. The social media post read, “Nysos has returned to the worktab. The son of Nyquist breezed 4-furlongs in :48 at Santa Anita Park Monday for trainer Bob Baffert. It’s the colt’s first work since being scratched the morning of the G1 Pacific Classic due to a foot bruise.”

This one solid half-mile workout really makes a strong impression from the Hall of Fame trainer. Baffert has been carefully handling the colt’s recovery, and this public workout is the first real sign that the journey back for the Breeders’ Cup is officially kicking off. It’s a classic move by Baffert, letting the horse’s performance on the track speak for itself rather than getting into a verbal showdown.

A four-furlong workout in late September sets up a classic route to a big race, giving enough time for a series of longer and more intense workouts to get Nysos in top shape. The racing scene has changed a lot since we last saw Nysos take charge at the San Diego Handicap back in July. We’ve got some new contenders in the mix, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic scene is getting pretty packed with big names like Sovereignty and Fierceness stepping up.

But having a healthy and trained Nysos around definitely adds an exciting twist. Baffert has always thought of the colt as a “Classic horse” who “can run all day,” and you can’t deny his raw talent. If Baffert can help him find that form he used to have, Nysos could really shake things up for all the other top contenders. But it looks like the trainer might have another horse ready to go for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Bob Baffert isn’t putting all his eggs in one basket

Bob Baffert has a pretty big stable, and among his horses, Goal Oriented is looking like a possible contender for the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic, even if he’s not the top pick right now. The three-year-old colt, under the guidance of the Hall of Fame trainer, really showed some promise by winning his first two career races. He showed he can compete at the Grade 1 level, finishing third in both the Haskell Stakes and the Pennsylvania Derby, and coming in fourth in the Preakness Stakes.

Even with a strong resume, the colt is still labeled as “possible” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Before Goal Oriented’s last race, the Pennsylvania Derby, Baffert said, “He is getting better. He’s a big, beautiful horse. I think we will see it. He is going to have to improve. They are all improving.” The trainer definitely seemed confident about how well his colt was doing.

In the end, Goal Oriented took home third place, coming in behind Magnitude, who snagged second, and Baeza, who was celebrating his very first graded stakes win in his career. Well, if Nysos isn’t the one, then Goal Oriented could be the colt that Baffert has his eye on. But really, only time will reveal what strategy the trainer is thinking about.