NYSOS wins the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile - Photo: Carson Blevins / Agentes 305
Opening day of Santa Anita Park’s traditional Classic Meet, now scheduled for Sunday, will include notable clash of Grade I-winning stablemates Nysos and Nevada Beach in the Grade II, $200,000 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes. Also among the six graded stakes on a blockbuster program are the GII Mathis Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf and GIII San Gabriel at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
Nysos and Nevada Beach, both trained by Bob Baffert, are part of a seven-horse field signed on for the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes. Nysos will be making his first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Nevada Beach, who most recently won the GIII Native Diver going 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 22, earned his Grade I win in the Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita in September also going 1 1/8 miles. They will meet at 1 1/16 miles in the Laffit Pincay Jr., a long-standing race previously known as the San Antonio which last year was renamed in honor of the legendary jockey.
Looming as potential upset threats in the Pincay are British Isles and Bartholdy.British Isles finished second by a half-length to Nevada Beach in the Native Diver after a long series of turf efforts. The 4-year-old gelding by Justify is trained by Richard Baltas. Bartholdy, who has been mainly a sprinter, stretches out for trainer Steve Knapp after a high-level allowance win going 6 ½ furlongs on Nov. 30 at Del Mar. The runner-up that day, Midland Money, is entered in the opening day Grade I Malibu for Baffert.
The Laffit Pincay Jr. goes as the sixth race on an 11-race card set for opening day. First post is 11 a.m. PT and the Pincay will go at approximately 1:30 p.m. The field in post position order:
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