In the 2015 GII San Vicente S., reigning GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Texas Red (Afleet Alex) turned in a positive effort, but was forced to settle for a runner-up effort. Reddam Racing's champion 2-year-old colt Nyquist (Uncle Mo) will try to avoid a similar fate as he makes his first start of 2016 in Monday's seven-furlong affair.
The bay colt displayed considerable precociousness and a fair bit of talent in running the table in three tries around one turn to begin his career, with defeats of Swipe (Birdstone) in the GII Best Pal S. and GI Del Mar Futurity at the seaside oval over the summer. Though he managed to grind out a half-length success when trying a route of ground for the first time in this track's GI FrontRunner S. Sept. 26, most were underwhelmed with the performance, and when Nyquist drew in the grandstand for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Oct. 31, it strengthened the resolve of the naysayers. No better than five wide the trip that day, he hit the front a furlong from home and held off Swipe for a fourth consecutive time to lock up the Eclipse. Win, lose or draw Monday, connections are just happy to get the colt back to work.
“We're just eager to see him compete at a high level on Monday and let that speak for itself,” trainer Doug O'Neill said. “That's what I love about this game, though, everyone has an opinion. Whenever you read something negative about your own horses, it's like somebody saying something about your family members. But if he runs a big race Monday, we can write our own story.”
Exaggerator (Curlin), who covered 85 fewer feet in the Juvenile according to Trakus stats, franked the form of the race when he shipped down to Louisiana and outfought New Jersey raider Sunny Ridge (Holy Bull) to win the GIII Delta Jackpot S. Nov. 21. Similar to Nyquist, the dark bay proved adept at shorter trips, graduating going three-quarters of a mile at Del Mar last July and adding a cozy success in Saratoga's GII Saratoga Special S. the following month.
Sheikh of Sheikhs (Discreetly Mine) looks to have the speed to control the race from the front, but the question is for how long? Very impressive in wiring a field of Saratoga maidens Aug. 22, he gave way readily to finish sixth in the GI Dixiana Breeders' Futurity Oct. 3, but cut back to six panels to win the Juvenile Dirt Sprint on Breeders' Cup Saturday. The bay exits a third to undefeated Awesome Banner (Awesome of Course) in the GIII Hutcheson S. at Gulfstream Jan. 2.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
