Louisville, Kentucky: Favorite Nyquist ran an ideal race to increase his unbeaten report profitable the 142nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville on Saturday, sparking speak of a second consecutive Triple Crown champion.
Nyquist, who had gained a document $US3.three million heading into the Derby, prolonged his unbeaten report to eight-zero with a clean journey beneath jockey Mario Gutierrez.
Nyquist pulled away from Gun Runner down the stretch after which held off a closing cost by Exaggerator to win the primary leg of US thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown collection for three-yr-olds.
Exaggerator, the second selection, completed second by 1-1/four lengths adopted by Gun Runner, who was four-half lengths off the tempo. Mohaymen took fourth.
“He is superb,” stated Gutierrez. “You get this 2-yr-previous child with ideas of stepping into the Kentucky Derby,” he stated. “Every part has translated into actuality. There are not any phrases for it.”
Nyquist paid $6.60, $four.eighty, $three.60 for a $2 guess in turning into the eighth unbeaten horse ever to triumph within the Run for the Roses.
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Nyquist broke out of the thirteenth gate cleanly and Gutierrez eased him again to permit velocity runner Danzing Sweet, beginning out of the twentieth gate within the 20-horse subject, to clear him from the surface.
After Danzing Sweet dropped again within the later levels, Gun Runner took over the lead however on the prime of the stretch, Nyquist blew previous the colt and opened up a large lead heading for the end.
Exaggerator, who ran alongside the rail in the midst of the pack by way of the primary half of the 1-1/four mile race, made a gallant cost down the stretch and closed inside a size however couldn’t overhaul the favorite.
“He is such a particular horse, you possibly can see it in his eye each day,” stated profitable coach Doug O’Neill, who together with Gutierrez teamed as much as win the Derby 4 years in the past with I am going to Have One other.
“He is such knowledgeable. At any human sport he’d be the highest notch athlete. He is simply first-class. Simply the best way he carries himself, he is the kind of horse can be within the health club all day, go to mattress early, he is aware of when to relaxation, he is aware of when to convey his A recreation.
“There isn’t any approach you possibly can be nervous. You felt such as you have been going to the fitness center with Kobe Bryant. You simply knew he was going to determine a method to pull it out on the finish and he did.”
The subsequent leg of the Triple Crown, swept for the primary time in 37 years final season by American Pharoah, is the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore on Might 21.
– Reuters