Nyquist Adds Kentucky Derby To String of Victories

The racing world wondered if there was a worthy successor to last year's Triple Crown champion, American Pharoah. Enter Nyquist.

The bay colt who lacks any distinctive markings won the Kentucky Derby by 1¼ lengths Saturday and improved to 8-0 in his career as he became the fourth consecutive favorite to win the race.

Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Nyquist ran 1¼ miles in 2:01.31 and held off a hard-charging Exaggerator at the wire. Nyquist became the eighth unbeaten winner in the race's 142-year history and the first since Big Brown in 2008. Nyquist paid $6.60, $4.80 and $3.60 as the 2-1 favorite in the full field of 20 horses.

"We got a beautiful trip from the start to the end," Gutierrez said.

Nyquist delivered a second Derby win for Gutierrez, trainer Doug O'Neill and owner J. Paul Reddam. They were the team behind 2012 Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another, who was scratched on the eve of the Belmont with a tendon injury that denied him a shot at the Triple Crown.

"This is such a special horse," O'Neill said of Nyquist. "You can see it in his eye on a daily basis, and he's such a professional. Any human sport, he'd be the top-notch athlete. He's just first-class.''

Asked how this win compares to the one four years ago, O'Neill told ESPN, "Better second time. I'm more mature. 2012 was a blur. This is very sweet."

With Saturday's victory, Gutierrez became the first jockey to win his first two Derby starts.

Nyquist enjoyed a perfect trip over the Churchill Downs dirt in front of 167,227, the second-largest crowd in Derby history. The 3-year-old colt broke well out of the 13th post and showed some early speed getting away from the gate. Gutierrez eased Nyquist back to let speedster Danzing Candy take the lead going into the chaotic first turn.

"His run was awesome," Reddam said. "Obviously, we were going to take it to 'em. I love the way that we fired out of there, and he sat behind Danzing Candy. This horse, he's really something. We're just really lucky to be a part of that."

Nyquist stayed just off the lead, and Gutierrez kept him in the clear by steering him to the outside on the final turn. Nyquist and Gun Runner overtook tiring leader Danzing Candy at the top of the stretch.