Nyquist wins FrontRunner to stay unbeaten
ARCADIA, Calif. – The heat was on Nyquist from the start on Saturday, but he survived an early challenge from two rivals, a late bid from another, plus a stewards’ inquiry to remain unbeaten in four starts by capturing the Grade 1, $300,750 FrontRunner Stakes for 2-year-olds on a hot, muggy afternoon at Santa Anita.
“They’re making us sweat on a hot day,” owner Paul Reddam said when the inquiry was adjudicated in his favor.
It was the right call. Nyquist deserved the win on all fronts. He had Go Long to his inside and Mt Veeder to his outside go with him early, disposed of those two after six furlongs, then spurned a late challenge along the inside from Swipe before winning by three-quarters of a length in his first try around two turns.
Hollywood Don was another 5 3/4 lengths back in third, then came Rare Candy, Blameitonthelaw, Mt Veeder, Go Long, and On Fire.
Nyquist ($3), the favorite, completed 1 1/16 miles on a fast but dull track in 1:44.89. He has now won all four of his starts, including the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and Grade 2 Best Pal at Del Mar.
Nyquist won both those stakes at Del Mar by daylight, both over Swipe. This was his toughest battle since his winning debut.
“He showed he likes a dogfight,” Reddam said. “It was a little more exciting than we wanted it to be.”
Nyquist and Swipe both were running just 19 days after the Del Mar Futurity.
‘It’s not ideal, but the idea was to run in this race and then have five weeks until the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile,” Reddam said.
The FrontRunner, at 1 1/16 miles, is a Win in You’re In race toward the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Doug O’Neill trains Nyquist, who was ridden by Mario Gutierrez. That is the same team, along with Reddam, that campaigned I’ll Have Another, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2012.
O’Neill and Reddam also campaign Hopeful Stakes winner Ralis, who is scheduled to run next weekend in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park in his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup.