Nyquist colt works fastest at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream breeze show

A colt by leading young sire Nyquist worked a furlong in 9 4/5 seconds to stand alone atop the leaderboard as juveniles entered in the boutique Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale of 2-year-olds in training were showcased at an under-tack preview show Monday. The Gulfstream sale, a high-end auction that is returning in 2021 after cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, is set for Wednesday afternoon.

The bullet-working colt is from the second crop of 2015 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, a champion who finished as last year's leading freshman sire for Darley. The colt, consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables, as agent, is the first foal out of the winning Smart Strike mare Spinning Wheel. Spinning Wheel is out of Grade 2-placed Magical Ride, dam of classic-placed Ride On Curlin and stakes winner Space Mountain. Spinning Wheel's second dam is Grade 1 winner Victory Ride. Grade 1 winner River Flyer, Brazilian Group 1 winner Mais Que Bonita, and graded stakes winners Admiral's Cruise, Don Cavallo, and Worldly Manner also appear on the catalog page.

The vast majority of horses at the under-tack preview worked a furlong over the dirt track rated fast, considered the traditional measuring stick for juveniles at public auction. Of the smaller group of juveniles to work a quarter-mile, a filly from the first crop of the late Arrogate held the bullet, working in 21 1/5 seconds. Eclipse Award champion Arrogate, North America's all-time leading moneywinner, stood three seasons at Juddmonte Farm prior to his death last year.

The filly, who is consigned by bloodstock agent Tom McCrocklin, is the first foal out of the Grade 3-placed Flatter mare Flatter Up. That mare is out of a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Midnight Storm.

Both the Nyquist colt and the Arrogate filly turned in their bullet breezes at their respective distances in the first set of the day.

The breeze show was marred by the death of a colt from the third crop of Triple Crown winner and leading sire American Pharoah, following a freak accident. The colt, who had been scheduled to be among a handful of juveniles to breeze on the turf, was reported to have lost his rider before turning and running the wrong way up the course. He suffered a significant injury colliding with the inner rail before collapsing in the infield. The colt, consigned by Scanlon Training and Sales, was from the immediate family of Grade 1 winner and successful sire Quality Road.

“It was an unfortunate incident,” Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning, Jr., told the Thoroughbred Daily News. “The incident occurred before the horse breezed. The horse dropped its rider and ran through the rail and suffered a catastrophic injury. We are highly committed to doing things in the safest manner possible to take care of both horses and humans. I don't know of anything that could have been done to prevent this accident. We give our deepest sympathy to the connections and for the horse and we are deeply sorry this occurred.”

For full results from the breeze show, click here.