Nyquist silences critics, wins Kentucky Derby to stay unbeaten

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nyquist sped clear turning for home and finished clear of a fast-closing Exaggerator in winning the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Nyquist, the 2-1 favorite, remained unbeaten in eight career starts in becoming the second Derby winner for the team of owner Paul Reddam, trainer Doug O’Neill, and jockey Mario Gutierrez, who won the 2012 Derby with I’ll Have Another.

The winner paid $6.60 as the fourth straight winning favorite in the Derby.

Gun Runner was third, followed by Mohaymen and Suddenbreakingnews. The top four were in order of favoritism.

Nyquist, is “just such a special horse,” O’Neill told NBC Sports immediately afterward. “He knows when to bring his ‘A’ game."

Nyquist, a Kentucky-bred bay colt by Uncle Mo, finished the 1 1/4-mile distance in 2:01.31 over a fast track. Exaggerator was 1 1/4 lengths back in second, with Gun Runner another 3 1/4 lengths farther back in third. Mohaymen was up to edge Suddenbreakingnews for fourth.

By number, the full order was 13-11-5-14-2-9-19-4-8-17-6-12-3-15-20-1-7-18-10-16.

Weather was sunny and warm, with the attendance reported at 167,227, the second-highest in race history. The Derby record crowd of 170,513 was set last year.

The $2 exacta (13-11) paid $30.60, the $1 trifecta (13-11-5) returned $86.70, the $1 superfecta (13-11-5-14) was worth $542.10, and the $1 super high five (13-11-5-14-2) paid $5,794.50.