Nyquist Remains Undefeated in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
The same team that brought us the Kentucky Derby winner of 2012, I’ll Have Another is at it again. Trainer Doug O’Neill, jockey Mario Gutierrez and Reddam Racing took their undefeated colt and winner of three graded stakes races out of California for the very first time, and Nyquist handled everything like a young colt that is on his way to an exciting racing career.
Leaving the gate from post number two, Riker grabbed the lead along the rail and led the field into the first turn, with Unbridled Outlaw on his outside. Riker continued to hold the pace as he carried the field through an opening quarter in 23.49. As they made their way onto the backstretch, Cocked and Loaded showed promise gaining from the far outside into 3rd. Now on the inside, after breaking from post number nine, Kent Desormeaux positioned Exaggerator, trained by his brother Keith, nicely into fourth.
In a 14 horse field, not every horse that starts from the outside is going to have as much luck diving down into the field and settling inside the pack. For the connections of Nyquist, it had to be disconcerting to see their horse battle the challenges of post number 13 in a 15 horse field.
Mario Gutierrez urged him out, but was left with plenty to overcome, as the field took shape into the first turn. As a result, Nyquist shifted six wide before Gutierrez got some relief, while the field began to take shape on the backstretch.
Nyquist was still racing four wide, as Riker took the field into final turn after a half mile split in 47.62. Riker held firm and led as they turned for home. A persistent Cocked and Loaded was ready to finally make his move by the leader but at this point it was too late, and he had too little. Despite the challenges of racing wide, Nyquist turned it on, followed strongly by Cocked and Loaded.
With 1/16 left to go, Mario Gutierrez took a peak behind him to see if there were any challengers remaining. Although Swipe was making a run at him from well off the pace, it was not enough, and Nyquist held on to win the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Brody’s Cause was game enough to get up for third, Exaggerator held for fourth and Cocked and Loaded finished 5th. The post time favorite, Greenpointcrusader was never a threat and finished 7th. The final time in the 1 1/16 Mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was 1:43.79.
After ten tries the win was Mario Gutierrez’s first Breeders Cup Victory. “It means a lot, especially to be on him (Nyquist) it makes it extra special.” Gutierrez went on to highlight how well he knows the colt he’s been riding since his debut race. “Even today, we were wide in the first turn but because I know the kind of horse he is, I ask him to go and he’ll get going.”
Train Doug O’Neill did not appear as calm as his jockey during the race. “Honestly, mid race I thought he was done.” But Nyquist wasn’t done yet and his trainer felt it. “When he came back on, it’s so emotional, this is a good horse.”
Nyquist confirmed how risky it is to bet against a proven winner against a class of so many contenders still looking for their first graded stakes win. I do not think there is any question that the son of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Winner Uncle Mo will be at the top of the line for two things at the end of 2015; Eclipse Award and the early 2016 Kentucky Derby favorite.