Nyquist Outruns Mohaymen in Florida Derby

THE WEEKEND WRAP UP

April 2-3

Nyquist Puts Forth Dominant Performance in Florida Derby

Nyquist stamped himself the clear Kentucky Derby favorite after a dominant performance in Saturday’s $1 million Gr.1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The undefeated juvenile champion and Breeders’ Cup winner beat a solid field of 10 – most notably east coast rival, Mohaymen – by 3 ¼ lengths with a time of 1:49.11.

Flying out of the gate, jockey Mario Gutierrez took Nyquist straight to the lead and never looked back. Setting solid fractions of 23.60, 47.09 and 1:11.39, Nyquist was never seriously pressured and shook loose from favorite Mohaymen in the clubhouse turn. The grey son of Tapit, Mohaymen failed to fire and faded to fourth. Nyquist floated about five lanes over before crossing the wire.

“I don’t have an excuse for the way he ran,” explained Junior Alvarado. “He’s a horse that [always] drags me and jumps in the bridle right away… This time he wasn’t pulling me. It got me a little worried. The track could be one little reason but there’s nothing else I really can say. Other than that we were clear on the outside.” Receiving a 95 Beyer speed figure in the Remsen, Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth, Mohaymen had seemingly plateaued. Saturday’s Florida Derby marked the colt’s fifth start since November and his second start going 1 ⅛.

“I had reservations a month or so ago—Mohaymen in his own backyard, do we really want to do something like that,” said Nyquist’s trainer Doug O’Neill. “But we all very quickly got on the same page and, you know, I think we just had a very lucky trip. Mario broke great and did a great job riding and everything just went right. This whole trip other than being delayed one day, everything else went right.”

Nyquist arrived at Keeneland Racecourse Sunday morning to prepare for the Kentucky Derby. He is owned by Reddam Racing and was purchased as a 2-year-old from Fasig-Tipton for $400,000. The solid bay colt is by Uncle Mo and has earned $2,322,600. His win in the Florida Derby received a 94 Beyer and granted him 100 points towards the first Saturday in May. He currently tallies 130 points – second behind Gun Runner on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Payouts
Nyquist $4.40 $3.20 $3.60
Majesto ——- $11.00 $6.20
Fellowship ————- $5.40
Mohaymen

Go Maggie Go Remains Unbeaten in Gulfstream Park Oaks

Lightly raced filly Go Maggie Go retained her unbeaten status Saturday as she took the $250,000 Gr. 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks by an easy 2 ¼ lengths. It was just the second start of her career.

Paola Queen took the lead at the start, setting the pace, while Go Maggie Go and Hold On Momma ran behind her. Previously unbeaten Off the Tracks settled in fourth through a quarter in :23.09 and a half-mile in :46.70. As the field came around the turn, Off the Tracks made her move going three-wide, and overtook Paola Queen but could not get past Go Maggie Go. The latter, ridden by Luis Saez, took the field through the six-furlong mark in 1:11.16 and pulled away through the lane. Her final time for the 1 1/16 mile race was 1:43.74.

A 3-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper, Go Maggie Go is trained by Dale Romans for owner Mike Tarp. From her two victories, she has earned $175,900. Romans stated that he plans to send the filly to the Kentucky Oaks on May 6. The filly received an 88 Beyer and 100 points towards the Kentucky Oaks with Saturday’s win.

Payouts
Go Maggie Go $10.00 $4.60 $2.60
Paola Queen ——— $5.60 $2.80
Off The Tracks ————- $2.20
Gomo

Wonderment Goes Gate to Wire in Bourbonette

Saturday’s running of the $100,000 Gr. 3 Bourbonette Stakes saw Wonderment gallop to a 3 ¾ length victory at Turfway Park. The grey filly by Cosmonaut lead from start to finish and recorded a winning time of 1:39.04 for the mile long race — run over an all weather track.

Piloted by Cornelio Velasquez, Wonderment broke from post #2 and maintained no less than a half length lead over the course of the race. Marquee Miss and Channing Hill stalked in second the entirety of the race before losing their position to Inconclusive and Florent Geroux, who hit the wire second. The winner set fractions of 23.25, 47.07, 1:13.05 and 1:25.96 before hitting the wire and received a 74 Beyer for her performance. Saturday was Wonderment’s first attempt at two turns.

“Her gallops have been getting stronger and stronger, and her breezes have been so sharp, we were confident she would like the route of ground,” said Alan Shell, assistant trainer to Kenny McPeek.

New York-bred by Michael S. Landers, Wonderment is owned by Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek) and Chris Sterbenz. The 3-year-old currently holds a record of 4-3-0-1, totally $181,160. The Gr.3 Bourbonette marked her first stakes/graded stakes victory, and also awarded her 50 points towards the Kentucky Oaks. She is currently 8th on the leaderboard.

Payouts
Wonderment $10.00 $5.60 $3.40
Inconclusive ——– $8.80 $4.80
Marquee Miss ————- $3.20
Miss Meteor

$1 trifecta → $250.90

Oscar Nominated Kentucky Derby Bound Following Spiral S. Win

Michael Maker-trained Oscar Nominated ran away with his first graded stakes victory in the $500,000 Gr.3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park. After closing on the stretch, the Ramsey owned colt stole the show from Azar by just a neck and posted a time of 1:51.12.

A field of twelve took to the all-weather track to contest the 1 1/8 mile race on Saturday afternoon. Rallis and Corey Nakatani lead the first quarter in 23.22 and were then confronted by Azar, who went on to set fractions of 48.23, 1:13.62 and 1:38.74. On the stretch, behind the frontrunner, Oscar Nominated and Brian Hernandez Jr. had started there rally, moving from fifth to second as they turned for home. Galloping in the 3-path, Oscar Nominated dueled on the stretch with Azar and outdid him by a neck. On the outside, Surgical strike surged down the center of the track after galloping 8-wide rounding the turn, and finished third.

“We had a lot of confidence in him because he handled the Polytrack so well and he traveled under me the whole way really well,” stated jockey Brian Hernandez. Owner Kenneth Ramsey added, “He’d been showing a lot in his training moves and really loved the Polytrack, so we thought we had a big shot.” So long as he comes out of the race well, Oscar Nominated is slated to head to Kentucky for the first Saturday in May. “If someone wants to pay the $200,000 supplemental fee, we’ll split whatever I earn out of his next three races,” stated Ramsey, who also mentioned possible starts in the Preakness and Belmont if all goes well.

Oscar Nominated is a 3-year-old colt by Kitten’s Joy and out of Devine Actress (Theatrical IRE). Claimed for $75,000 by Michael Maker at Belmont Park in late 2015, the chestnut now stands 7-3-2-0 with $371,860 in earnings. The 23-1 long shot ran an 82 Beyer in Saturday’s Spiral Stakes — his first stakes victory — and received 50 points for the win.

Payouts
Oscar Nominated $49.20 $18.00 $11.00
Azar ——————— $9.00 $6.40
Surgical Strike —————— $5.40
Two Step Time

$1 trifecta → $1,252.70

Kaigun and Jersey Joe Capture Pan American

In an electrifying finish, 6-year-old gelding Kaigun stole the show in Saturday’s $200,000 Gr.2 Pan American Stakes. The Mark Casse trainee rallied in the homestretch to win by a head – going 1 ½ mile on the turf in 2:29.20.

Buried early, Kaigun and jockey Joe Bravo waited patiently in back of the nine horse field – hovering close to the rail to save ground. Heading into the clubhouse turn Kaigun began to make his move and swung wide heading towards the wire. He scooted up quickly away from the group into first where he fought off favorite Wake Forest. This was the first win for Kaigun since 2014; he had recently had a string of second place finishes.

“Ain’t it great to get out of second position? He makes my job easy. He’s a pretty cool horse,” said Bravo. “ It’s a shame that he’s run second the last few times but each start you learn a little bit more. All those races they were learning experiences for today’s win. They had him ready to run. The last 70 yards, Johnny [Velazquez aboard Wake Forest] came running and I was like, ‘No!’”

The chestnut son of Northern Afleet is owned by Quintessential Racing Florida LLC, Horse’n Around Racing Stables and Gary Barber. Kaigun is named after a Japanese warship, a play off his bloodlines. He has earned $1,361,115 in his 28 starts.

Kaigan paid $7.60 for the win, $3.60 for place, and $2.40 for show. Runner-up Wake Forest paid $4.00 and $2.80, while favorite Grand Tito paid $2.40 for third.

Photo Call Blooms in Orchid Stakes

Living up to her title as favorite, Photo Call won Saturday’s $200,000 Orchid Stakes (Gr.3) at Gulfstream Park in an impressive front runner fashion. The 5-year-old Irish-bred mare trained by Todd Pletcher completed the 1 3/8 mile trek on the turf in 2:16.38.

Photo Call stalked the early leader Quiet Kitten through the quarter mile and took over as the field passed the grandstand for the first time. In the run for the wire, Photo Call held of Songoficeandfire by three-quarters of a length.

“I had a great trip. I wanted to rate, that was my goal, but unfortunately, she wouldn’t rate. She’s not that kind of horse,” said jockey Javier Castellano. “You need to let her run. If you rate her too much, she’s not going to run. If you fighter her too much, she’s not going to finish. The key today, let her run.”

Photo Call is owned by Teresa Viola Racing Stables and was purchased for $3 million at the Keeneland November bloodstock sale last November. The daughter of Galileo has earned $526,102 in 16 starts.

The winner returned $4.00, $2.80 and $2.40.

Valid Every Bit The Professional in Skip Away

6-year-old gelding Valid was the highlight of the field for the $150,000 Gr. 3 Skip Away Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday and did not disappoint. Under regular rider Nik Juarez, the son of Medaglia d’Oro cruised to a 1 ¾ length victory over the field of six.

Sent to the lead after the break, Valid set a modest pace. The quarter went in :24.49, half in :48.34, and six furlongs in 1:12.44. Entering the lane, Team Colors applied some pressure to the leader, but could not get close enough to strike and was all out trying. Valid kept clear, coasting under the wire in a final time of 1:48.42 for the 1 ⅛ mile race.

Juarez, who has been the most consistent rider for Valid, has formed a close relationship with the gelding. “Valid deserved to win the Skip Away. He is an iron horse who always gives it his all and I am grateful to be able to ride such an honest horse like him.” The 22-year-old jock has been riding for a little under two years and was sidelined for six months from 2014-2015. April 3rd marked exactly one year since his return to the races and his hard work is paying off. “I am very fortunate to have come this far,” Juarez told EverythingEQ.

Last out in the Gr. 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap on March 5, Valid stumbled and nearly fell before still finishing third. Saturday’s victory was the first of the year for the gelding, who has won 7 stakes races, 4 of them at Gulfstream. From 37 career starts, he has 12 wins, 9 seconds, and 7 thirds for earnings of $1,101,647.

Valid returned $2.80 for the win and $2.10 for place and show.

THE WEEKEND WRAP-UP COVERS 3-YEAR-OLD KENTUCKY DERBY AND OAKS PREPS, BREEDERS’ CUP “WIN AND YOU’RE IN” RACES, AND STAKES RACES FEATURING NOTEWORTHY HORSES. TRACKS COVERED INCLUDE SANTA ANITA, DEL MAR, LOS ALAMITOS (TB), GULFSTREAM PARK, TAMPA BAY DOWNS, AQUEDUCT, BELMONT PARK, SARATOGA, KEENELAND, CHURCHILL DOWNS, OAKLAWN, MONMOUTH PARK AND FAIR GROUNDS.

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