The Kentucky Derby has been run continuously since its inception in 1875, and in the years since then, few horses have ever entered the “Run for the Roses” with a more decorated record than Nyquist.
Advertisement
When it comes to winning the Kentucky Derby, trainer Doug O’Neill, owner Paul Reddam and jockey Mario Gutierrez said they’ll have another.
Trainer Doug O’Neill was at Barn 41, at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky, shortly after 5 a.m. on Sunday to give a check on his Kentucky Derby victor Nyquist and the readout was a good one.
Todd said Gutierrez was planning to return to the Lower Mainland this summer, and was set to race for Todd on Canada Day at Hastings Park. He put away his closest rival and sped to the finish line, with Exaggerator closing but never threatening after coming from well back. The sport has had only one pair of back-to-back Triple Crown winners – Seattle Slew in 1977 and Affirmed in 1978.
Given special permission to stand apart from his counterparts as they paraded through the paddock, jockey Yutaka Take was soon in the saddle and on the track with arguably the Derby’s most temperamental horse. “He’s never exhausted. It doesn’t seem like we’ve gotten to the bottom of him, so that’s very exciting”.
Now Nyquist is the horse in position to replicate the feat, with the Preakness Stakes up next on May 21.
“Having a horse like Nyquist has given us an opportunity to really show everyone how we’re here to serve the horses and see the love and care given to the horses”, he said.
“I would expect his training schedule to be pretty light between now and the race, because he’s certainly very fit”, Nyquist owner Reddam said in a statement.
Even Reddam said that as a fan he’d bet against his horse.
After claiming victory in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, will Nyquist go on to win the Preakness and the Belmont this year?
Unbeaten Nyquist arrived at Pimlico on Monday and was eased into Stall 24 of the Stakes Barn with six other horses trained by O’Neill.
The Preakness is the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, with the 1-1/2 mile Belmont Stakes closing the grueling series on June 11. Nyquist broke well and settled in behind and was in the top three horses for most of the race.
Exaggerator never got past Nyquist on the gallop out.
The longest of the three triple crown races at 1.5 miles; often referred to as the “Test of the Champion”. “With a horse this good, we wanted to treat it with respect and the reverence that we owe the horse”.
“Every time Mrazek’s name came up he’d always say, ‘You know I scored on him?’ Yeah, Erik, you told us last time”.
Though it’s possible there’s a late-developing horse who could be a factor in the next two Triple Crown races, this appears to be a rather uninspiring group of 3-year-olds.
Trainer Keith Desormeaux said after Saturday’s loss that he looked forward to a rematch with Nyquist.
When his first crop reached the race track a year ago, he was the leading freshman sire, leading juvenile sire and set a record for progeny earnings. “When I pulled him up, he sounded like a lion”.
With Danzing Candy setting fast fractions, going 22.58 for the first 1/4 mile and 45.72 at the half-mile mark, Gun Runner rushed up on the inside, passing Nyquist to challenge the tiring leader on the far turn.
Advertisement
“I think he finally silenced all the critics, at least I’m hoping he did”, Reddam said.
