The Detroit Red Wings have enjoyed plenty of National Hockey League success with Gustav Nyquist as a member of the roster.
Advertisement
The 14-stall starting gate may be filled, but the race seems like a match between Nyquist and Exaggerator.
“There’s a quiet confidence in the group that’s not flashy”, owner Paul Reddam told Rick Howlett of member station WFPL before the race.
Last year, American Pharoah became the first horse to win the Triple Crown since 1978, a rare feat that Nyquist’s owners came into this season’s opening leg hoping to replicate.
Bred by Summerhill Farm, Nyquist is the first foal produced by the winning Forestry mare Seeking Gabrielle, who is a half-sister to Grade 3 victor Seeking The Sky, who is herself the dam of the Grade 1-winning Sahara Sky. Gun Runner (who was third), Suddenbreakingnews (fifth), and Lani (ninth) are possible but far from definite. Nyquist is now 8 for 8 in career starts, winning in 2 minutes, 1.31 seconds.
Nyquist, the undefeated three-year-old colt who was a champion 2-year-old, won the 142nd Kentucky Derby Saturday, extending his unbeaten string to eight races and rewarding his many backers who had staked him as the 2-1 favorite. “With I’ll Have Another being a long shot in the Derby, he was under the radar, ” he said.
“We’re very excited that the Derby victor and a couple others from the race are coming to the Preakness”, said Georgeanne Hale, Vice President of Racing and Racing Secretary for the Maryland Jockey Club. “The horse was relaxed nearly as though he knew what was coming and wanted it. Mario was relaxed”. He is simply an fantastic horse. “I look forward to having Nyquist be on the front of the sports section”.
This time out, Tepin sat five lengths behind front-runner Isabella Sings, who was never going to last home after setting some very fast early split times.
PhillipSarah Sis finishes the eighth race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 7, 2016, in Louisville, Ky.
O’Neill and his team continue to offer positive reports in the aftermath of Nyquist’s 1 1/4-length triumph Saturday. “He shows it each time he takes the track”. Any human sport, he’d be the top-notch athlete. “But – to speak Californian for a moment – there’s a very good vibe in the barn”.
“He had his head out over the webbing, looking bright-eyed”, O’Neill said. “There was no way I was going to be nervous with the way he has performed”.
Before the Kentucky Derby, the horse had gone a ideal 7 for 7 in his early races. Well, lose. So, yeah, he is a Triple Crown threat.
“We will see”, the trainer said. “When you’re fast and you stay out of trouble in a 20-horse field, that’s a big edge”, Baffert said.
“He’s way too fit already”, said Leandro Mora, O’Neill’s chief assistant.
“He’s the best horse I’ve ever been around”, said trainer Doug O’Neill, who also had 2012 Kentucky Derby victor I’ll Have Another.
Advertisement
Gutierrez, who has ridden Nyquist in all his eight races, said: “It’s unreal”. Fortunately, neither jockey nor either horse appeared to sustain injuries.
