Racing Roundtable: Sovereignty headed to Travers, Nysos on quest for Classic

On this week's Racing Roundtable, Ashley Anderson, Vance Hanson, and Nick Tammaro talk Sovereignty's Jim Dandy (G2) triumph and Travers (G1) chances, Nysos' potential as a Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) contender, and more.

The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) winner, Sovereignty continued his dominance among the three-year-old division with a one-length victory over Kentucky Derby and Belmont third-place finisher Baeza. It was another 9 1/4 lengths back to Hill Road in third, followed closely by Mo Plex and Sandman in the 1 1/8-mile prep for the Travers (G1) on Aug. 23.

Meanwhile, in California, Bob Baffert's star four-year-old Nysos easily took the 1 1/16-mile San Diego H. (G2) when besting stablemate and runner-up Mirahmadi by 2 3/4 lengths. The Nyquist colt successfully stretched out to 8 1/2 furlongs for the first time in his six-race career. It was only his second attempt at two turns — the first being a 7 1/2-length tally in the one-mile Robert B. Lewis (G3) as a three-year-old, his only start that season before he was sidelined by injury. 

Nysos' lone career loss came on May 3, when making his four-year-old debut and returning off a 15-month layoff. The Baoma Corp color bearer was beaten a neck by Mindframe, the subsequent winner of the Stephen Foster (G1), a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In event for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Nysos' next start is expected to be the Pacific Classic (G1), likewise a challenge series event for the Breeders' Cup Classic. Baffert is hopeful Nysos can handle the 1 1/4-mile distance, and his pedigree would suggest he should. His dam, Zetta Z, is out Travers winner and Classic runner-up Bernardini.

Other notable performances covered on this week's Roundtable include Calandagan's last-to-first score in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. (G1) at Ascot, a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In for the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). Lovesick Blues also secured a bid to the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) with his upset of the Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar.