Nyquist keeps rolling in Del Mar Futurity

DEL MAR, Calif. – A summer to remember for trainer Doug O’Neill and owner Paul Reddam ended with a day they’ll never forget as they swept Monday’s Grade 1 stakes for 2-year-olds at Saratoga and Del Mar, first with upsetter Ralis in the Hopeful and then, hours later, with heavily favored Nyquist here in the $300,250 Del Mar Futurity.

The win by Nyquist ($3) was expected, and that’s what had Reddam nervous. “When you’re 1-2,” he said, “there’s no real upside. You can only be disappointed. I’m glad it’s over.”

There should be more from Nyquist, who scored his third victory without a loss, and this was his most impressive. He chased a hot pace of 22.44 seconds and 44.54 for the first half-mile of the seven-furlong race, vaulted to the lead entering the lane, and pulled clear before being taken hold of late by jockey Mario Gutierrez. He won by 3 3/4 lengths over Swipe, mirroring the 1-2 finish of the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes, the prep for the Futurity, on Aug. 8.

Nyquist completed seven furlongs on the fast main track in 1:23.28.

Blameitonthelaw was third, 4 1/4 lengths behind Rockin Bayou, and was followed by Annie’s Candy and Achaeo in the field of six.

Mt Veeder and Nightly News, both trained by Bob Baffert, were scratched earlier in the day.

Reddam said the day was “pretty strange.” He, O’Neill, and Gutierrez also won a 2-year-old maiden race at Del Mar with the filly Where’s the D.

“When you think you can win three races, you usually lose at least two, and here we won Grade 1 races on both coasts,” Reddam said.

Nyquist was purchased by Reddam for $400,000 on the advice of O’Neill’s brother, Dennis, who scouted the son of Uncle Mo at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale in March.

“This is a super horse, and like any great athlete, it’s a matter of staying healthy, and if he stays that way, he’ll do some big things,” Doug O’Neill said.

In addition to winning the Best Pal and Del Mar Futurity this summer with Nyquist, O’Neill and Reddam ran one-two earlier in the meet in another 2-year-old stakes race, the Graduation, with Mrazek and Ralis. Mrazek, in fact, was initially the intended starter in the Hopeful, but he came up with an issue that sent him to the sidelines. Reddam suggested sending Ralis in his place.

“It turned out to be a lucky decision,” Reddam said.