On paper, it’s not even close. Of all blooming 3-year-olds with Kentucky Derby dreams, a pair of undefeated colts stand well above the rest: Mohaymen and Nyquist. Saturday, the two titans will tango for the first time at Gulfstream Park for the Florida Derby.

While 8 other rivals are set to tackle the 1-1/8 mile Grade I test, make no mistake, this race boils down to a duel. Nyquist, by the hottest young sire on the planet Uncle Mo, ships in from trainer Doug O’Neil’s California camp with a head full of steam. The reining Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champ has but one race under his belt in 2016, a 7 furlong dash in the Grade II San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on February 15. His speed is unquestioned, but the colt has already flashed plenty of intangibles in his short and unblemished career. His will to win was on full display in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall, overcoming an outside post and hellacious trip before rocketing through a sliver of daylight to score.

Big time stuff.

Mohaymen, meanwhile, has been stationed in Florida all year for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and Shadwell Farm, racking up a pair of wins in the Fountain of Youth and Holy Bull Stakes over this very dirt in professional fashion. The son of the sport’s top sire Tapit (and a $2.2 million yearling purchase) has the pedigree for greatness and will undoubtedly enjoy the home course edge, but will it be enough to chase down his speedy foe?

No matter who comes out on top Saturday, the ultimate showdown looms five weeks away at Churchill Downs. The Florida Derby is a bold notch on the belt, but both camps can only hope their studs keep something in the tank for Louisville.

 

 

 

$500,000 XpressBet Florida Derby 
Saturday, April 2, 6:45p (ET)

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