Join now & win money today! Get Started

Nysos Retired from Racing to Stand at Ashford Stud

---

Multiple Grade I winner Nysos (Nyquist) has been retired from racing and will stand at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud for the 2027 breeding season.

The decision was made following a routine diagnostic evaluation that revealed subtle imaging changes on a scan. While Nysos remains sound and uninjured, trainer Bob Baffert and the ownership group comprising Baoma Corporation and the Coolmore partners unanimously agreed to take a strict precautionary approach, prioritizing the horse’s long-term health and safety above all else.

“Nysos is not hurt or injured, but taking a precautionary approach is strictly about doing what is right for the horse,” said Baffert. “With the minor changes shown on the evaluation, we simply don’t have the time needed to prepare him for the Breeders’ Cup the way we would want to. He has given us everything and retiring him completely sound and at the top of his game is the proper decision.”

Named a ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ after a scintillating debut at Santa Anita that saw him win by a widening 10 1/2-length margin, Nysos was never off the board in his career. A seven-time graded winner, two of those at the Grade I level, the son of Nyquist produced a sensational effort to claim the 2025 GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and capped his career with another stellar victory at Saratoga when winning the GI Met Mile.

On the two occasions he ran second, he was a valiant runner-up to Mindframe in the 2025 GI Churchill Downs Stakes and produced a race for the ages in Saudi Arabia this past February when he pushed globetrotting Forever Young every step to the wire in the G1 Saudi Cup. Nysos retires with a 10-8-2-0 record and over $5.2-million in career earnings.

“He was brilliant from day one,” Baffert added. “He possessed a great mind, raw speed, and incredible intelligence. He is a remarkably talented racehorse. When he opened up on a field, the margins he put on top horses were unbelievable. He made top-class competition look ordinary, and I have no doubt he will be a massive success at stud.”

“Nysos is the horse every owner dreams of having, and for Charles and me, he represents a defining milestone in our lives,” said co-owner Susan Chu of Baoma Corp. “He is far more than an exceptional racehorse, he is the greatest reward for the years of dedication and unwavering commitment we have put into our life in racing.”

“We are deeply grateful to Bob Baffert for developing one of our greatest racing stars and guiding Nysos throughout his remarkable racing career. We are equally honored that Coolmore, one of the world’s most respected and successful stallion operations, will lead the next chapter of Nysos’ journey. We have every confidence that he will make a significant impact as a stallion.

“Charles and I are fully committed to supporting Nysos with our very best stakes-winning mares, and we look forward with great excitement to watching his legacy continue for generations to come.”

“Nysos showed rare brilliance every time he stepped on the racetrack,” said Ashford Stud’s Charlie O’Connor. “He brings together serious speed, outstanding physical presence, and a top-class pedigree. He is a fantastic addition to our roster, and we are grateful to Charles and Susan Chu and our partners for bringing a stallion prospect of his quality to Ashford.”

Bred in Kentucky by Susie Atkins, Nysos is by champion sire Nyquist out of the $2-million broodmare Zetta Z. Stud fee details will be announced in the near future.

The post Nysos Retired from Racing to Stand at Ashford Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Ask HISA/HIWU: Lab Status Update

---

   With a view to pulling the veil back on the whys and wherefores of their operations, a representative of either the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority or the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) will every week answer a question of industry importance posed by the TDN.

If you have any questions you’d like to ask HISA or HIWU, please feel free to send them over to us at the following email address: danross@thetdn.com

Q: What’s the situation regarding the HISA Equine Analytical Laboratory (HEAL) accreditation process for the labs contracted by HIWU? Are you working towards getting the Ohio and Pennsylvania labs (who are currently suspended) accredited again? Or are you planning on keeping the three active labs (California, Kentucky and Industrial) as the only ones HIWU uses? I ask, as former HIWU chief of science, Dr. Mart Scollay, told the TDN just over a year ago that “an ideal is probably three laboratories.”

   Answer from HIWU’s acting chief of science, Dr. Michael Hardy:

The HEAL accreditation statuses of the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory (PETRL) and Analytical Toxicology Laboratory at the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ATL) remain suspended. Their accreditations have not been fully revoked. HIWU is actively engaged with both laboratories, as PETRL and ATL have demonstrated good faith effort to investigate and identify their respective root cause(s) and are working through corrective actions. If/when the probationary HEAL accreditation status of either laboratory is reinstated, HIWU will notify the industry.

The goal of the HEAL Accreditation Program is to ensure that all laboratories analyzing samples meet or exceed a uniform set of requirements. While HIWU is currently using three laboratories, we are open to adding additional Program laboratories if they are able to meet HEAL standards. As Dr. Scollay pointed out in the referenced interview, having more Program laboratories can be “hugely successful” if they are collaborative with HIWU and the other laboratories.

The post Ask HISA/HIWU: Lab Status Update appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Nysos Retired from Racing to Stand at Ashford Stud

---

Multiple Grade I winner Nysos (Nyquist) has been retired from racing and will stand at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud for the 2027 breeding season.

The decision was made following a routine diagnostic evaluation that revealed subtle imaging changes on a scan. While Nysos remains sound and uninjured, trainer Bob Baffert and the ownership group comprising Baoma Corporation and the Coolmore partners unanimously agreed to take a strict precautionary approach, prioritizing the horse’s long-term health and safety above all else.

“Nysos is not hurt or injured, but taking a precautionary approach is strictly about doing what is right for the horse,” said Baffert. “With the minor changes shown on the evaluation, we simply don’t have the time needed to prepare him for the Breeders’ Cup the way we would want to. He has given us everything and retiring him completely sound and at the top of his game is the proper decision.”

Named a ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ after a scintillating debut at Santa Anita that saw him win by a widening 10 1/2-length margin, Nysos was never off the board in his career. A seven-time graded winner, two of those at the Grade I level, the son of Nyquist produced a sensational effort to claim the 2025 GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and capped his career with another stellar victory at Saratoga when winning the GI Met Mile.

On the two occasions he ran second, he was a valiant runner-up to Mindframe in the 2025 GI Churchill Downs Stakes and produced a race for the ages in Saudi Arabia this past February when he pushed globetrotting Forever Young every step to the wire in the G1 Saudi Cup. Nysos retires with a 10-8-2-0 record and over $5.2-million in career earnings.

“He was brilliant from day one,” Baffert added. “He possessed a great mind, raw speed, and incredible intelligence. He is a remarkably talented racehorse. When he opened up on a field, the margins he put on top horses were unbelievable. He made top-class competition look ordinary, and I have no doubt he will be a massive success at stud.”

“Nysos is the horse every owner dreams of having, and for Charles and me, he represents a defining milestone in our lives,” said co-owner Susan Chu of Baoma Corp. “He is far more than an exceptional racehorse, he is the greatest reward for the years of dedication and unwavering commitment we have put into our life in racing.”

“We are deeply grateful to Bob Baffert for developing one of our greatest racing stars and guiding Nysos throughout his remarkable racing career. We are equally honored that Coolmore, one of the world’s most respected and successful stallion operations, will lead the next chapter of Nysos’ journey. We have every confidence that he will make a significant impact as a stallion.

“Charles and I are fully committed to supporting Nysos with our very best stakes-winning mares, and we look forward with great excitement to watching his legacy continue for generations to come.”

“Nysos showed rare brilliance every time he stepped on the racetrack,” said Ashford Stud’s Charlie O’Connor. “He brings together serious speed, outstanding physical presence, and a top-class pedigree. He is a fantastic addition to our roster, and we are grateful to Charles and Susan Chu and our partners for bringing a stallion prospect of his quality to Ashford.”

Bred in Kentucky by Susie Atkins, Nysos is by champion sire Nyquist out of the $2-million broodmare Zetta Z. Stud fee details will be announced in the near future.

The post Nysos Retired from Racing to Stand at Ashford Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Ask HISA/HIWU: Lab Status Update

---

   With a view to pulling the veil back on the whys and wherefores of their operations, a representative of either the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority or the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) will every week answer a question of industry importance posed by the TDN.

If you have any questions you’d like to ask HISA or HIWU, please feel free to send them over to us at the following email address: danross@thetdn.com

Q: What’s the situation regarding the HISA Equine Analytical Laboratory (HEAL) accreditation process for the labs contracted by HIWU? Are you working towards getting the Ohio and Pennsylvania labs (who are currently suspended) accredited again? Or are you planning on keeping the three active labs (California, Kentucky and Industrial) as the only ones HIWU uses? I ask, as former HIWU chief of science, Dr. Mart Scollay, told the TDN just over a year ago that “an ideal is probably three laboratories.”

   Answer from HIWU’s acting chief of science, Dr. Michael Hardy:

The HEAL accreditation statuses of the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory (PETRL) and Analytical Toxicology Laboratory at the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ATL) remain suspended. Their accreditations have not been fully revoked. HIWU is actively engaged with both laboratories, as PETRL and ATL have demonstrated good faith effort to investigate and identify their respective root cause(s) and are working through corrective actions. If/when the probationary HEAL accreditation status of either laboratory is reinstated, HIWU will notify the industry.

The goal of the HEAL Accreditation Program is to ensure that all laboratories analyzing samples meet or exceed a uniform set of requirements. While HIWU is currently using three laboratories, we are open to adding additional Program laboratories if they are able to meet HEAL standards. As Dr. Scollay pointed out in the referenced interview, having more Program laboratories can be “hugely successful” if they are collaborative with HIWU and the other laboratories.

The post Ask HISA/HIWU: Lab Status Update appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.