Zipse: Nysos and Journalism set for Pacific Classic showdown

With next month’s Whitney (G1) at Saratoga looking to be a star-studded affair, the fear was the $1 million, Grade 1 Pacific Classic on the opposite coast would come up a real clunker. Fortunes can change in an afternoon, however, and suddenly Del Mar’s signature race is one to look forward to. Nysos and Journalism round 2 is now set. The first piece of the puzzle came together when trainer Bob Baffert announced that his star 5-year-old would pass on the Whitney and instead look to make a California homecoming in the 10-furlong Pacific Classic. The timing of the big race at Del Mar, two weeks closer to the October 31 Breeders’ Cup Classic, is preferable to Baffert and will also give the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) hero an opportunity to go the 1 1/4-mile distance before this year’s World Championships at Keeneland. When last seen, the son of Nyquist was ultra-impressive in overpowering a strong field in the Met Mile (G1) at Saratoga It was the type of performance that suggests that as a fully mature 5-year-old, Nysos could be the best horse in American racing. A winner of 8-of-10 lifetime starts, with two seconds, his victory in the Met Mile may have been his best race yet in a near spotless racing career. That effort looked even better when the second-place finisher Knightsbridge romped by more than ten lengths in Saturday’s Monmouth Cup (G2). The second piece of the puzzle came several hours later on Saturday with the running of the San Diego Handicap (G2), a race which was won by Nysos last year. Having danced every dance while ducking no horse throughout the first 13 races of his career, it was nice to see Journalism finally get some class relief in the local prep for...