Nyquist took the first step out of American Pharoah’s shadow when he maintained his flawless record in the 142nd Kentucky Derby at Louisville on Saturday.
Nyquist took his record to eight wins from as many starts when he held on to beat the fast-finishing Exaggerator by a length and a quarter to become the first undefeated Derby winner since Big Brown in 2008.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s Mohaymen could not contain Gunner Runner in the race for third, while UAE Derby winner Lani was ninth for Japan.
It was the second time that the combination of trainer Doug O’Neill, jockey Mario Gutierrez and owner Paul Reddam had won the Run For The Roses after I’ll Have Another in 2012.
• Geoffrey Riddle profiles Nyquist: The 'Lamborghini' backed to emulate American Pharoah
That colt went on to land the Preakness Stakes, and Nyquist is due to leave for Pimlico Racecourse on Monday in an effort to secure the second leg of the US Triple Crown over 1,900 metres.
“He’s just a special horse,” O’Neill told reporters. “This is the best horse that I have been around. This horse is so string and does everything so easy, and he’s just never tired. It doesn’t seem like we’ve ever really gotten to the bottom of him.”
Although it is unlikely, It is too early in the piece to speculate whether Nyquist will be able to stay the 2,400 metres of the Belmont Stakes on June 11 but he has displayed so far that he can deal with almost any situation.
“He has been able to win by five lengths, he has been able to win by a nose—that’s how I’ve had so much confidence in him,” Gutierrez said. “I know he’ll have something to respond.”
Nyquist emerged from his wide draw in gate 13 with clear daylight ahead of him after expected front-runner Danzig Candy broke poorly outside and had to be rushed up to take his position on the front end.
Gutierrez was happy to sit in behind as Danzig Candy set searing fractions. Heading in to the final turn Gun Runner slipped up the inside to take on Danzig Candy, which broke the long-time leader. At the top of the stretch, Nyquist made his bid for glory and could never quite be reeled in by Kent Desormeaux, who gave Exaggerator a little too much to do.
“I thought we had time to catch Nyquist,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said. “He had clear running room the entire (quarter-mile) stretch. I thought for sure we would catch him. I didn’t see where Nyquist was during the race until after it was over and he was right there on the pace. What a horse. I can’t respect that horse enough.”
Also on Saturday Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Tepin booked her ticket to Royal Ascot with a dominant performance in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile under Julien Leparoux.
After the race trainer Mark Casse underlined that last year’s Eclipse Award winner is almost certain to ship for the royal meeting in June, especially with doubts surrounding the participation in the Queen Anne Stakes of defending champion Solow.
“I guess we better start figuring out how we do this,” Casse said. “I guess Royal Ascot here we come.”
KENTUCKY DERBY RESULTS
Position; horse; lengths
1. Nyquist
2. Exaggerator; 1 1/4
3. Gun Runner; 4 1/2
4. Mohaymen; 4 1/2
5. Suddenbreakingnews; 4 1/2
6. Destin; 6 3/4
7. Brody’s Cause; 9 1/4
8. Mo Tom; 10
9. Lani; 10 1/2
10. Mor Spirit; 14 1/4
11. My Man Sam; 14 1/4
12. Tom’s Ready; 16 3/4
13. Creator; 18
14. Outwork; 18 1/4
15. Danzing Candy; 19 3/4
16. Trojan Nation; 27 1/2
17. Oscar Nominated; 33 1/4
18. Majesto; 37 1/2
19. Whitmore; 38
20. Shagaf; DNF
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