Favorite Nyquist draws favorable post position for Kentucky Derby
LOUISVILLE — Nothing has happened at Churchill Downs this week to suggest there’s reason to doubt Nyquist’s status as the Kentucky Derby favorite, including Wednesday’s post position draw.
Nyquist will start from the No. 13 gate and was installed as the 3-to-1 favorite on the morning line, a position that thrilled trainer Doug O’Neill because it will allow jockey Mario Gutierrez to use the horse’s tactical speed and place him anywhere he wants in the race.
“I feel great about it,” O’Neill said. “Absolutely great.”
Named for Detroit Red Wings hockey player Gustav Nyquist, the equine version is 7-for-7 in his career and was named the 2-year-old champion last year after winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile.
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O’Neill, Gutierrez and owner J. Paul Reddam are the same team that led I’ll Have Another to victory in the 2012 Kentucky Derby at 15-to-1 odds and followed it up with a victory in the Preakness Stakes.
Though Nyquist is a solid favorite, the odds set by linemaker Mike Battaglia reflect the general feeling that this Derby field is evenly-matched and at least a dozen horses could get to the winner’s circle if Nyquist doesn’t run his best race. Second-choice Exaggerator is 8-1 while eight horses will be between 10-to-1 and 15-to-1 on the morning.
“It very much reflects that it’s a wide open race,” said Dale Romans, who trains Brody’s Cause.
In a race where many of the top contenders prefer to come from behind, one of the biggest question marks this week was who would go to the early lead and whether there would be fast enough fractions to set things up for the closers.
That scenario was likely drawn up Wednesday when front-running Danzing Candy drew the No. 20 post position, meaning jockey Mike Smith will have no choice but to get him out of the gate quickly or risk getting swept wide on the first turn. Wood Memorial winner Outwork, another speed horse, drew favorably in the No. 15 hole.
“Pace was the biggest question, no doubt about it, but I’m very comfortable there will be a live pace now,” said Tom Amoss, who trains longshot Mo Tom. “It’s good for the closers.
O’Neill even suggested that Nyquist could end up being part of the pace scenario.
“I wouldn’t mind that at all,” he said. “Nyquist has shown the versatility to win on the lead, from off the pace. We’ve got options.”
Exaggerator was installed as the 8-to-1 second choice coming off his victory in the Santa Anita Derby and will break from the No. 11 post, which did not thrill jockey Kent Desormeaux because his horse will be one of the first to load and will have a long wait in the starting gate.
“It sucks,” said Desormeaux, who has won the Derby three times. “But it’s like 100 years to the first turn. The only way you get in trouble is with a bad horse.”
Victor Espinoza, who rode American Pharoah to a Triple Crown victory last year, is bidding to become the first jockey to win three Kentucky Derbys in a row. He'll start from the No. 10 post on 20-to-1 longshot Whitmore.
Bob Baffert, the trainer of American Pharoah, has one entry in Mor Spirit, who drew the No. 17 post at 12-1.
The only horse who appeared to be significantly compromised by post position was Trojan Nation, who comes into the race winless and drew the dreaded No. 1 hole.
