Nyquist Looks to Remain Perfect in FrontRunner

The 2015 running of the GI FrontRunner S. has some formidable hoofprints to follow after last year’s winner, American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), went on to register six straight victories–including the Triple Crown–while the third home that afternoon was Texas Red (Afleet Alex), who returned to romp in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Whether there is a horse of that quality in this year’s field remains to be seen, but Nyquist (Uncle Mo) looks to be the class of this bunch as he seeks to take his record to a perfect four from four.

The $400,000 Fasig-Tipton March graduate showed all kinds of tenacity in his June 5 bow going five furlongs of this main track, battling back after surrendering the lead to best next-out winner Annie’s Candy (Twirling Candy) by a head. The bay took the next logical step in the GII Best Pal S. at Del Mar Aug. 8 and made light work of FrontRunner rival Swipe (Birdstone) by 5 1/4 lengths and exits a 3 3/4-length defeat of that foe and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Blameitonthelaw (Blame) in the GI Del Mar Futurity Sept. 7.

The latter could not have been more impressive in his 5 1/2-furlong debut at Del Mar Aug. 2, waiting behind rivals before exploding through an opening at the rail in the lane to score by 4 1/4 lengths. The $320,000 OBS March acquisition by Doubledown Stables failed to show any of the spark that he did first time out when he ambled home a well-beaten third in the Futurity. He should stretch out nicely, though his dam’s high-water mark came in a 5 1/2-furlong stakes dash on the grass.

Prior to his efforts in the Best Pal and the Futurity, Swipe earned his diploma with a head defeat of next-out stakes winner Mrazek (Square Eddie) in the Summer Juvenile Championship at Los Alamitos July 12. Purchased for a mere $5,000 out of last year’s Keeneland September sale, he is by a Belmont S.-winning sire, but out of a Grand Slam mare who never ventured beyond 3/4 of a mile.

Hollywood Don (Tapit) and Mt Veeder (Ghostzapper) are the only other multiple winners in the field aside from the favorite. Hollywood Don sports solid form on the turf, having graduated by a hard-fought neck at Del Mar Aug. 12 before annexing the Del Mar Juvenile Turf by a widening 1 1/2 lengths Sept. 5. His most recent work at Los Al suggests the surface switch shouldn’t be an issue. Mt Veeder won his maiden at first asking Aug. 15 and was entered for, but later scratched from the Futurity. The chestnut wheels back on 13 days’ rest off a 4 3/4-length success in the Contender S. in Orange County.