Nyquist Ready For Second Leg of Triple Crown

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Published on May 20 2016 6:21 am
Last Updated on May 20 2016 6:21 am

He was a champion at 2, remained unbeaten through the Kentucky Derby, winning against a field many thought was substandard, and his Triple Crown bid came soon after a lengthy Triple Crown drought ended, which might have initially kept him from being fully appreciated.

That was the story arc in 1977 for Seattle Slew, and it has many parallels to the story of Nyquist, who will try to keep his perfect record and his Triple Crown hopes alive when he starts as the heavy favorite Saturday in the 141st Preakness Stakes here at Pimlico.

Like Seattle Slew, Nyquist won all of his starts at 2, earning a divisional Eclipse Award. Like Seattle Slew, Nyquist beat a Derby field that appeared to be below par. Of the 19 horses who ran against Nyquist two weeks ago at Churchill Downs, only two are back for the Preakness, which is the same number of Derby rivals that Seattle Slew faced at Pimlico in 1977.

And like Seattle Slew, Nyquist may be suffering from a Triple Crown hangover. Though Seattle Slew was four years removed from the mighty Secretariat ending a 25-year Triple Crown drought in 1973, Nyquist is racing in the large shadow cast by American Pharoah, whose Triple Crown last year ended a 37-year gap. Had American Pharoah gone the way of Smarty Jones, Spectacular Bid and California Chrome, losing the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes, there might be more anticipation over Nyquist's attempt.

To be sure, Nyquist has become a well-appreciated runner. His Kentucky Derby victory was satisfying and emphatic. Bettors made him a strong 2-1 favorite against 19 others, he was clearly best on the day, and students of time noted that his Beyer Speed Figure was a career best. Eight starts into his career, there is a very real possibility that he's still improving.

"American Pharoah did a wonderful job," said Doug O'Neill, the trainer of Nyquist. "Those are big shoes to fill, but Nyquist can fill them if we're as fortunate to do as much as American Pharoah. It would be wonderful if he could fill those shoes and carry the torch forward."