May 8, 2016 
There were questions coming in. Sure, Nyquist was undefeated, but was he really fast enough? Was he fit enough to stay the distance in his first test beyond a mile and 1/8 and hold off a deep posse of closers?
The only question left in the wake of the 142nd Kentucky Derby is, will this colt ever lose?
Nyquist answered the call on Saturday at Churchill Downs for his 8th win in 8 career starts. The colt broke cleanly from his 13th post position and jockey Mario Gutierrez patiently waited for the expected pace setter Danzing Candy to assume the lead from the outside. Stalking the fast fractions, Gutierrez opened the colt up as they hit the top of the stretch, swinging him to the middle of the track to get a good eye at Gun Runner who was sprinting ahead to his inside.
That target was all he needed as he quickly assumed the lead and never looked back, rolling to a 1 3/4 length victory over a fast closing Exaggerator.
“Nyquist is a remarkable athlete,” boasted trainer Doug O’Neill. “You put him in company and he’s like a Ferrari.”
The final time of 2:01.3 is the fastest in the Derby since Funny Cide in 2003. Nyquist becomes just the 8th undefeated winner in Kentucky Derby history, and joins 2007 champ Street Sense as the only horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Run for the Roses.
So now what?
Nyquist reinforced his status as the country’s top 3-year-old colt and, assuming he comes out of the race in good order, will be tough to handle in the Preakness. Just as he has been every time he’s hit the track. Could we really have another Triple Crown on our hands?
Let’s not go there quite yet. But no matter what happens from here, it was a brilliant performance by a brilliant thoroughbred.
Lots more to come from Churchill Downs, stay tuned.
