A well-backed 2-1 on career debut, Robert Masterson and Jack Hamilton's Pinto (Nyquist)–trained by Norm Casse–found the wire a head better than the Mark Casse-conditioned Rockin Robin (Spun to Run) to keep it all in the family Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.
Drawn widest in a field scratched down to seven, the $190,000 Keeneland January and $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase led early, but the 1-2 chalk was intent on making the running and took command prior to the end of the backstretch.
With Pinto off the bridle to pick up approaching the stretch, it looked like graduation day would need to wait for another time, but the gray filly re-engaged from between horses and boxed on bravely to be home narrowly best. Fellow first-time starter Mon Reve (Mitole), a half-sister to GSW & GISP Bracket Buster (Vekoma), was off slowly, bid three abreast inside the final furlong and finished a promising third.
Pinto is one of three winners from four to the races and the last-listed foal out of an unplaced half-sister to Real Cozzy (Cozzene), winner of the 2001 GII Fair Grounds Oaks, runner-up in the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Mother Goose Stakes and third in the GI Acorn Stakes. The filly's third dam Really Blue (Believe It) produced GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness Stakes hero Real Quiet (Quiet American).
4th-Keeneland, $105,340, Msw, 4-11, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:19.19, ft, head.
PINTO (f, 3, Nyquist–Mining for Mercury, by The Factor) Sales history: $190,000 Ylg '24 KEEJAN; $400,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $67,348. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Robert E Masterson & Jack Hamilton; B-Peter A Berglar Racing Interests LLC (KY); T-Norm W Casse.
(9) Pinto wins by a nose at the wire in a Casse family exacta at Keeneland for trainer @normcasse! (8) Rockin Robin trained by @markecasse was second and (7) Mon Reve takes third. pic.twitter.com/P6BHEMtwvA
— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) April 11, 2026
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