Nyquist early 3-1 favorite for Derby

Four horses have won from there since 1900, most recently Smarty Jones in 2004.

Nyquist is hoping post position No. 13 is lucky for him, jockey Mario Gutierrez and trainer Doug O’Neill in the 2016 Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs. He is a longshot with a very realistic chance to win the “Run for the Roses” on Saturday.

The Kentucky-bred Nyquist, who will sport Reddam Racing LLC’s familiar white and purple silks, arrives at Saturday’s 1 1/4-mile classic with a ideal record of seven wins from seven starts including four Grade I victories led by scores in the Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar; the FrontRunner, at Santa Anita; the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland; as well as his most recent triumph in the Florida Derby, at Gulfstream Park. They are also familiar with the heartbreak that strikes often on the Triple Crown trail: I’ll Have Another, who also won the Preakness Stakes, was scratched a day ahead of the Belmont Stakes with a tendon injury.

One year after the sport of kings crowned its first Triple Crown victor in 37 years thanks to American Pharoah’s triumphant sweep through thoroughbred racing’s biggest events last summer, a field of 20 horses will be bidding to repeat the feat.

In another interview with the Windsor Star, Reddam said, “I’ve been a Nyquist fan for a couple of years”.

This year’s favorite, Nyquist, starts in a favorable pole position, but the memory of American Pharoah’s historic run still lingers. He has been asked about American Pharoah far more than he has been asked about Mor Spirit, and he is OK with that. “It’s all about autographs and photographs, ” he said.

“But that having been said, I’ve always thought that Nyquist the hockey player played the game at a very high level and conducted himself with a lot of class. When they play ‘My Old Kentucky Home, ‘ it is a tearjerker for me”. He spent about an hour with him, walking him and even waiting for him to breed to a mare and then return. “So we got options, I think”.

With so many Secretariat kids in the mix, it’s hard to go wrong here.

“He hasn’t changed at all”, he said. He’s still really sweet and kind.

Comment: He has won only race, but his trainer has a habit of hitting the board with long-priced horses.

O’Neill has the favorite this time in the undefeated Nyquist. 18, 19 and 20 holes, where only one horse has won from each.

The draw can have a major impact on Kentucky Derby strategy, with an expected 20-horse field and major jockeying for position to get to the first turn in the 1¼-mile first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. Not the storied Louisville race track: Churchill Downs the stock. He worked 5 furlongs at Churchill in an extremely slow 1:06 on April 20. Drew the dreaded rail post and for a maiden runner, this is practically a death sentence.

Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Suddenbreakingnews enters the Derby off a runner-up finish in the Arkansas Derby. 3, Steve Asmussen. 4, Tom Amoss.

Trained by Mikio Matsunaga, Lani will be ridden by Yutaka Take and break from post position eight. 11 Keith Desormeaux. 12, Dallas Stewart.

Todd Pletcher will saddle a pair of 15-1 shots in Destin and Outwork.

But it didn’t bother

Mohaymen, starting alongside Nyquist from the 14th gate, is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. 2, Samuel F. Henderson.