Graded Winners Nysos, Dr. Venkman Set For Action In Saturday’s Grade III Triple Bend Stakes Going 7 Furlongs At Santa Anita

GRADED WINNERS NYSOS, DR. VENKMAN SET FOR ACTION IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III TRIPLE BEND STAKES GOING 7 FURLONGS AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (May 26, 2025)—Grade II winners Nysos and Dr. Venkman will meet for the first time Saturday when they go postward for the Grade III, $100,000 Triple Bend Stakes going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

Nysos recently returned from a 15-month layoff when dead-heating for second in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 3. Trained by Bob Baffert, Nysos raced in mid-pack that day before rallying in the stretch to lose by just a neck. It was his first defeat in four career starts.

A 4-year-old Nyquist colt, Nysos has worked twice since his comeback effort including a five-furlong bullet move in 59.20 seconds Friday at Santa Anita. Prior to the layoff, he won the GIII Robert B. Lewis in February 2024 at Santa Anita and the GIII Bob Hope at Del Mar in 2023. The Baoma Corp. colorbearer will have jockey Juan Hernandez aboard for the first time.

Dr. Venkman, trained by Mark Glatt, will be making his first start since finishing fourth in the GI Pacific Classic last August at Del Mar. In last year’s edition of the Triple Bend, Dr. Venkman finished second to winner Happy Jack. Following that effort, Dr. Venkman came back to earn his lone graded stakes in the GII San Diego Handicap going 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar.

A 5-year-old gelding by Ghostzapper, Dr. Venkman is 6: 3-2-0 with $418,500 in earnings for owners Alipony Racing, Dan J. Agnew, Clint Bunch and James Hailey. He’ll be ridden by Antonio Fresu, who was aboard for all three of his starts last year.

Spirit of Makena is back in the Triple Bend after winning it in 2023. Trained by George Papaprodromou, Spirit of Makena recently returned from an 18-month layoff in the GIII San Carlos on March 29 and finished a promising third. The 7-year-old horse by Ghostzapper enters with a record of 9: 4-1-1 and $365,600 in earnings for owner Kirstine M. Chandler. He’ll be ridden by Kyle Frey, who was also aboard in the San Carlos.

__THE GIII TRIPLE BEND WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER __

Race 7 of 10 - Approximate post time 4 p.m.

1. Vlahos – Edwin Maldonado – 124
2. Nysos – Juan Hernandez – 126
3. Spirit of Makena – Kyle Frey – 126
4. Smooth Cruisein – Tiago Pereira – 114
5. Dr. Venkman – Antonio Fresu – 126 First post for a 10-race card Saturday is 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.