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Preakness profiles: Nyquist

by | May 20, 2016 | Breaking, Maryland, MD Racing, Racing, Top Stories, Triple Crown Trail

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Staff Reports

In our Preakness profiles, we look into each of Saturday’s Preakness contenders.

WHO IS NYQUIST?

The winner of the Kentucky Derby heads to the Preakness as the only contender having five Grade 1 wins on five different tracks and is the deserved favorite in the Preakness field. He has won all eight of his starts with distances ranging from five to ten furlongs and was the 2015 two year old Eclipse Award winner.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT NYQUIST

“He’s a very special horse. He continues to show that on a daily basis,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “He’s by far the best horse we’ve ever had.” Keith Desormeaux, trainer of Exaggerator, said, “Obviously numbers-wise, horse for horse wise, it’s tough to think we can beat him. . . .”[I]f (Exaggerator) knows anything about Nyquist, it’s the rear view.”

WHY HE COULD WIN

The undefeated Nyquist has seven graded stakes wins, including five grade ones, besting all of his competitors. In his last outing, Nyquist earned a career best Beyer speed figure of 103. With his Kentucky Derby win, Nyquist proved that he can get the Preakness distance, and his performance in that race established that he can be patient and make his move on his own terms. His trainer, Doug O’Neill, also knows how to prepare a horse to win the Preakness. Three years ago O’Neill’s Derby winner I’ll Have Another went on to win the Preakness.

WHY HE COULD LOSE

Nyquist has run two triple digit Beyer figures, including his personal best in the Kentucky Derby. In the Grade 2 San Vicente, Nyquist ran a 101 Beyer and then bounced a bit, running a 94 in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. If Nyquist has a similar bounce in the Preakness, Exaggerator, his main threat, could turn the tables on Nyquist as Exaggerator has run triple digit Beyers in his last two races.

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  • Trainer Doug F. O’Neill
  • Owner Reddam Racing LLC
  • Jockey Mario Gutierrez
  • Bred in Kentucky by Summerhill Farm
  • Breeding Uncle Mo, out of Seeking Gabrielle by Forestry
  • Record 8-8-0-0, earnings of $4,954,200
  • Career highlights Five Grade 1 wins including the Del Mar Futurity, the Breeders Cup Juvenile Championship, and the Kentucky Derby
  • Morning line odds 3-5
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