LEXINGTON, Ky. – When Carpe Diem won the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes for Todd Pletcher last year at 2-5, it was the first time in 12 years that the favorite had won the Keeneland showcase.
Pletcher has the 5-2 morning-line choice in Zulu for the 92nd Blue Grass on Saturday, but with a full gate of 14 3-year-olds expected, a win by something other than the favorite in the 1 1/8-mile race would not be a big deal.
Danzing Candy
By Twirling Candy-Talkin and Singing, Songandaprayer
There’s a little bit of everything in San Felipe Stakes winner Danzing Candy’s pedigree – turf and dirt, sprinters and stayers. The colt, by promising young sire Twirling Candy, has emerged as one of the West Coast’s leading Kentucky Derby candidates entering this weekend’s Santa Anita Derby.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The way Exaggerator ran against Nyquist in the San Vicente Stakes in February, coupled with how strong Nyquist subsequently ran in Florida Derby last Saturday, continues to leave trainer Keith Desormeaux puzzled over Exaggerator’s second start of the year, last month’s San Felipe Stakes, in which he finished third to Danzing Candy and Mor Spirit.
It will be equal parts anticipation and angst for owner Mike Repole when he runs his homebred Outwork in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
It was exactly five years ago that Uncle Mo – also owned by Repole – entered the Wood Memorial as the undefeated 2-year-old male champion who had won his 3-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park and was sent off as the 1-10 favorite in the Wood. Uncle Mo led into midstretch before his tail started swishing and he surrendered the lead to Arthur’s Tale, who was then overtaken by Toby’s Corner. Uncle Mo finished third.
Nyquist’s impressive victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Florida Derby all but assures that the unbeaten champion 2-year-old male of 2015 will start as the favorite for the Kentucky Derby. Nyquist’s Florida Derby victory, however, will not remove the doubts many pedigree pundits have raised about whether or not there is sufficient stamina in his pedigree for him to stay the 10-furlong Kentucky Derby trip.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Emboldening his backers with a decisive victory Saturday in the Florida Derby, the undefeated Nyquist closed as the solid favorite in the fourth and final pool of the 2016 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
Grade 3, $500,000 Spiral Stakes, Turfway Park, April 2, 2016
(50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)
Winner: Oscar Nominated, by Kitten’s Joy
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey
Beyer Speed Figure: 82
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Led by Nyquist, the top four finishers from Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby are all pointing to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7.
Nyquist, last year’s 2-year-old champion, remained undefeated and likely earned the favorite’s role for the Kentucky Derby by virtue of his dominant 3 1/4-length victory in the Florida Derby over a wet Gulfstream Park track labeled “good.” It was his seventh victory from as many starts, his fourth in a Grade 1.
Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Gulfstream Park, April 2, 2016
(100 Derby qualifying points for a win, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth)
Winner: Nyquist, by Uncle Mo
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Mario Gutierrez
Owner: Reddam Racing LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 94
