Bet down at 1-9 odds on a sunny afternoon at Del Mar, Nysos delivered a win for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in the Grade 2 $300,000 San Diego Handicap July 26.

"There was a lot of pressure," Baffert said. "I've had a lot of good horses get beat in this race."

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Nysos was bogged down by traffic at the top of the lane until angling into a seam between horses and storming clear to win like a 1-9 favorite should. Rider Flavien Prat wrapped up on the colt under the wire, saving him for future targets.

The $300,500 San Diego was Nysos' first attempt at the 1 1/16-mile distance, a test he passed in a final time of 1:42.61.

Baffert announced the Grade 1 FanDuel Pacific Classic Stakes Aug. 30 at Del Mar would be next for the colt. As it stands after his San Diego Handicap romp, the 4-year-old appears to be a legitimate contender in either the Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint, the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, or the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

Nysos took a backseat to stablemate Mirahmadi as the bullish front-runner set a quick tempo through early fractions of :23.49, :46.91, and 1:10.82.

Meanwhile, Prat was a patient passenger aboard Nysos sitting a ground-saving trip along the rail. His rivals seemed content to let him stay there as long as they could. As the field turned for home, Mirahmadi gave way grudgingly to his stablemate, who had emerged from the traffic in one moment and was gone in the next.

Nysos ($2.20) finished 2 3/4 lengths of Mirahmadi. Tarantino completed the trifecta at 57-1.

Lovesick Blues Upsets Bing Crosby Stakes

Lovesick Blues shocked some of the best sprinters in California and beyond with a win in the $402,000 Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes July 26 at Del Mar. The 7-year-old California-bred gelding scored his first graded stakes win in 41 lifetime starts. He had run on turf in his previous five races. Lovesick Blues paid $39.20 to win and gave trainer Librado Barocio his second career graded stakes victory and first-ever Grade 1 win.

Lovesick Blues. (Richard Steele/Eclipse Sportswire)

"We're gamblers. You gotta swing the bat if you want to hit the grand slam," Barocio said.

The winner was ridden by Geovanni Franco. He rallied from seventh place early to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Pacesetting Hejazi held on to finish second. Kentucky shipper World Record finished third.

The final time for six furlongs on the fast dirt track was 1:08.74.

The Bing Crosby is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" Series, providing automatic paid entry into the Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint this fall at Del Mar. -- Tracy Gantz