Nysos, trained by Bob Baffert, heads into Saturday’s 2026 Met Mile at Saratoga Race Course as a 9-5 morning-line favorite after a runner-up finish to Forever Young in the Saudi Cup. The market lists Journalism second at 5-2, followed by Knightsbridge at 7-2, A
The Saratoga starting gate is loaded, and the 2026 Met Mile is already shaping up to be the kind of race where one horse can do the talking — and one popular pick can be left behind.
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos will try to win for the eighth time in 10 starts when he leaves the gate on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. Trained by Bob Baffert, the colt is coming off a second-place finish to Forever Young in the Saudi Cup.
For Saturday, Nysos has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the 2026 Met Mile odds. The top of the market doesn’t stop there: Journalism is listed at 5-2. Knightsbridge at 7-2. and Antiquarian at 6-1. Saudi Crown rounds out the top five choices at 8-1. The race features a seven-horse field.
The name on many tickets. though. is not the one that’s getting the strongest push from racing insider Michelle Yu. She’s in upstate New York to cover the race. and before anyone locks in a bet. she says there’s one move people will notice immediately: she’s completely fading Knightsbridge. despite him being the 7-2 third choice.
Instead, Yu is high on a big longshot described as an “up-and-comer.” She has included this horse in her 2026 Met Mile bets — and Yu is urging people to see her picks before making their own decisions.
Yu’s credibility in this game is a big part of why her Met Mile stance is getting attention. She started 2025 by going all-in on Citizen Bull to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, and she previously predicted Forever Young’s win in the Saudi Cup. Her run of winners also includes Journalism winning the San Felipe Stakes. Sandman winning the Arkansas Derby. and Mindframe winning the Churchill Downs Stakes. She hit the exacta in the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
Her 2025 momentum didn’t slow down. In March, she nailed the Renegade-Silent Tactic-Taptastic trifecta in the Arkansas Derby. On the Kentucky Derby undercard, she smashed two races: Crude Velocity’s win in the Pat Day Mile and Stark Contrast’s win in the American Turf.
So when Yu says the Met Mile picture includes a major longshot — and that Knightsbridge is the one she won’t be leaning on — it lands with extra weight. The numbers have Nysos out front at 9-5, but Yu’s bets hint that the biggest payoff might come from the horse people are least prepared to trust.
2026 Met Mile odds Nysos Bob Baffert Saratoga Race Course Forever Young Journalism Knightsbridge Antiquarian Saudi Crown Michelle Yu racing picks
So Nysos is favored again… but is that like guaranteed? People always jinx it.
Bob Baffert having him as the favorite like always. I don’t even bet anymore because the odds guys just pump it up. Also Knightsbridge at 7-2 sounds mid, why everyone acting like he’s irrelevant?
Wait, Michelle Yu is fading Knightsbridge… but he’s literally 3rd choice? That feels backwards lol. Like if he’s 7-2 how is he a ‘don’t pick’ but the ‘up-and-comer’ is gonna save everyone? I saw Forever Young already, so maybe that’s why I don’t trust this.
This article is kinda all over the place. It says Nysos tries to win for the eighth time in 10 starts like okay? But then it’s all about this longshot and ‘biggest payoff’ which is basically just marketing. Saratoga gate loaded?? Seven horses only and people still panic about picks. I thought the Met Mile was at Belmont anyway? Idk I just saw the name Bob Baffert and got annoyed.