Nyquist, owned by Windsor, Ontario-native J. Paul Reddam, was today installed the 3-1 favourite for Saturday’s 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby, at Churchill Downs. Nyquist, a bay son of Uncle Mo, is trained by Doug O’Neill and will be ridden by Mexico-native Mario Gutierrez who rose to fame at Hastings Racecourse, in Vancouver.
The Kentucky-bred Nyquist, who will sport Reddam Racing LLC’s familiar white and purple silks, arrives at Saturday’s 1 1/4-mile classic with a perfect record of seven wins from seven starts including four Grade I victories led by scores in the Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar; the FrontRunner, at Santa Anita; the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland; as well as his most recent triumph in the Florida Derby, at Gulfstream Park.
In 2012, the team of Reddam, O’Neill and Gutierrez captured the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes with I’ll Have Another.
The 60-year-old Reddam, a businessman now based in California, is a former professor of philosophy at California State University. He graduated from the University of Windsor with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and then obtained a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Toronto. In 1979, Reddam moved to California to earn his Ph.D. at the University of Southern California.
Reddam initially invested into harness racing owning horses at Windsor Raceway, but in 1988 he acquired his first thoroughbred and has since expanded his involvement in the sport to great success. An avid hockey fan, Reddam named his Kentucky Derby favourite, and Eclipse Award winning juvenile, after Detroit Red Wings star Gustav Nyquist.
Gutierrez won his first race in Canada on June 10, 2006 at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver when he guided Cherokee Freedom to victory in a maiden allowance tilt. The now 28-year-old rider shot to stardom in 2012 when he engineered a perfect trip for I’ll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby, becoming the first Derby winner to leave from Post 19.
At Wednesday’s post position draw for the 142nd Run For The Roses, Nyquist drew Post 13 in the 20-horse field that also includes the also eligibles Laoban and Cherry Wine.
“Breaking from 13 is just fine,” O’Neill said. “It didn’t matter to us a ton but we’re happy to be toward the outside.” O’Neill noted that Nyquist drew Post 13 when he won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland last fall.
To collect their second Kentucky Derby victory, Nyquist will have to annex a robust field that includes 8-1 second choice Exaggerator (Post 11, Kent Desormeaux) and 10-1 co-third choices Creator (Post 3, Ricardo Santana Jr.), Gun Runner (Post 5, Florent Geroux) and Mohaymen (Post 14, Junior Alvarado).
Post time for the Kentucky Derby, the 11th of 14 races at Churchill Downs on Saturday, is 6:34 p.m. EST.
Also of interest to Canadian racing fans on Saturday’s Kentucky Derby undercard is an appearance by Queen’s Plate Winterbook favourite Shakhimat in the $300,000 Grade II American Turf. Owned by Dan Gale, the Roger Attfield trainee will be piloted by Emma-Jayne Wilson in the 1 1/16-mile turf route set for Race 9.
Shakhimat, a dark bay son of Lonhro, has won three of four starts and arrives at Churchill Downs from a smashing 3 1/4-length score in the Grade III Transylvania Stakes, at Keeneland.
A stellar weekend of racing at Churchill Downs kicks off on Friday with the 142nd running of the $1-million Grade I Kentucky Oaks. Rachel’s Valentina, daughter of 2009 Oaks and Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, is the 7-2 morning line choice in a field of 14 that includes one also eligible. Reddam Racing LLC will be represented in the Oaks by Land Over Sea (Post 13, 5-1) with Gutierrez set to ride for O’Neill.
The Kentucky Oaks is slated as Friday’s 11th race at Churchill Downs, with a post time of 5:49 p.m EST. Other top contenders include Weep No More (Post 2, 9-2), Cathryn Sophia (Post 12, 9-2), and Lewis Bay (Post 3, 8-1).
Churchill’s first race post time on Friday May 6th and Saturday May 7th will be 10:30 a.m. Advance wagering on the Derby, including the Kentucky Oaks / Kentucky Derby Double and Oaks / Derby Pick Three, will be available beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 6th at all WEG locations and via HPIBet.Com. Mutuels will open at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Friday and 10:15 a.m. on Saturday at Woodbine.
On Saturday at Woodbine, racing fans are invited to attend a special Kentucky Derby Preview seminar hosted by Jim Mazur and Jim Bannon. Please register early for the event to be held on the 2nd Floor East at Woodbine.
Live racing at Woodbine on Saturday begins with a 1 p.m. first post with a 10-race card headlined by the Grade III Vigil Stakes. Fans are invited to try a mint julep and receive a Kentucky Derby Collectible Glass.
FIELD FOR THE 142nd KENTUCKY DERBY
Post / Jockey / Trainer / ML odds
1. Trojan Nation, Aaron Gryder, Patrick Gallagher, 50-1
2. Suddenbreakingnews, Luis Quinonez, Donnie Von Hemel, 20-1
3. Creator, Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen, 10-1
4. Mo Tom, Corey Lanerie, Tom Amoss, 20-1
5. Gun Runner, Florent Geroux, Steve Asmussen, 10-1
6. My Man Sam, Irad Ortiz Jr., Chad Brown, 20-1
7. Oscar Nominated, Julien Leparoux, 50-1
8. Lani, Yutaka Take, Mikio Matsunaga, 30-1
9. Destin, Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher, 15-1
10. Whitmore, Victor Espinoza, Ron Moquette, 20-1
11. Exaggerator, Kent Desormeaux, Keith Desormeaux, 8-1
12. Tom’s Ready, Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart, 30-1
13. Nyquist, Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neill, 3-1
14. Mohaymen, Junior Alvarado, Kiaran McLaughlin, 10-1
15. Outwork, John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 15-1
16. Shagaf, Joel Rosario, Chad Brown, 20-1
17. Mor Spirit, Gary Stevens, Bob Baffert, 12-1
18. Majesto, Emisael Jaramillo, Gustavo Delgado, 30-1
19. Brody’s Cause, Luis Saez, Dale Romans, 12-1
20. Danzing Candy, Mike Smith, Clifford Size Jr., 14-1
Also eligible:
Laoban, Cornelio Velasquez, Eric Guillot
Cherry Wine, Robby Albarado, Dale Romans
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