Nyquist Caps Banner Day for Reddam

A mere three hours after winning the GI Hopeful S. at Saratoga, the colors of J. Paul Reddam were in the winner’s circle for another juvenile Grade I event Monday, this time after Nyquist (Uncle Mo)’s victory in the GI Del Mar Futurity. “After the Hopeful, I was more excited than anything,” said Reddam, who also won a Del Mar maiden with 2-year-old Where’s the D (Blame) Monday. “I did get nervous before the Futurity, because, generally, as on odds-on favorite, we lose, first of all, and second, it always seems like bad things happen when you’re odds-on, not good things. I’m glad it’s over.”

Nyquist, who was coming off an easy score in the Aug. 8 GII Best Pal S., is now a perfect three-for-three in his young career. On the lead in the initial strides, Nyquist was unhurried and allowed Annie’s Candy (Twirling Candy) to take the early advantage. That 15-1 outsider sprinted through an opening quarter in :22.44 as Nyquist stalked from second. The 1-2 favorite inhaled the pacesetter after a half in :44.54 and shrugged off Rockin Bayou (Forefathers) at the top of the lane before striding clear to a 3 3/4-length victory. Swipe (Birdstone) closed for second and Blameitonthelaw (Blame) nipped Rockin Bayou for third.

“I thought we had the perfect trip and Mario [Gutierrez] did a great job,” said winning trainer Doug O’Neill. “This is a super horse and, like any great athlete, it’s a matter of staying healthy and if he stays that way he’ll do some big things.”

“Any other track in the country–if I run a :44 half like that–I’m well in front,” Mario Guitierrez, who teamed with Doug O’Neill and Paul Reddam to win the 2012 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. with I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley), said. “But here, they were all coming at me. I used him early, but then I didn’t have to use him at all. He just coasted home. He’s a nice colt, really nice.” Asked if Nyquist matched up with I’ll Have Another, Guitierrez said, “Can I compare him to I’ll Have Another? No, not really different horses. Remember, I rode ‘Another’ as a 3-year-old. This one is only a 2-year-old.”

Nyquist, who narrowly scored in his debut at Santa Anita June 5, became freshman sire Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie)’s first graded stakes victor when he captured the Aug. 8 GII Best Pal S. by 5 1/4 lengths. A $180,000 Keeneland November weanling, the bay sold for $230,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. Bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill signed the ticket at $400,000 on the youngster after he worked a furlong in :10 2/5 in at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Florida sale. His dam, Seeking Gabrielle (Forestry) sold for $45,000 at the 2011 Keeneland January sale. Carrying this foal, the mare RNA’d for $90,000 at the 2012 Keeneland November sale. She sold for $100,000 while in foal to Blame at the 2013 Keeneland November sale. Nyquist is the mare’s first foal. She produced a filly by Blame in 2014 and was bred to Flatter this spring. Out of graded stakes winner Seeking Regina (Seeking the Gold), Seeking Gabrielle is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Seeking the Sky (Storm Cat), who is the dam of Grade I winner Sahara Sky (Pleasant Tap). The 8-year-old mare is also a half to graded stakes placed Seeking it All (A.P. Indy) and Seeking the Money (Capote).

Monday, Del Mar
DEL MAR FUTURITY-GI, $300,250, DMR, 9-7, 2yo, 7f, 1:23.28, ft.
1–&NYQUIST, 122, c, 2, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Seeking Gabrielle, by Forestry
2nd Dam: Seeking Regina, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Fulbright Scholar, by Cox’s Ridge
($180,000 Wlg ’13 KEENOV; $230,000 Ylg ’14KEESEP; $400,000 2yo ’15 FTFMAR). O-Reddam Racing LLC; B-Summerhill Farm (KY); T-Doug F. O’Neill; J-Mario Gutierrez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $333,600. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
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2–Swipe, 120, c, 2, Birdstone–Avalanche Lily, by Grand Slam. ($5,000 Ylg ’14 KEESEP). O-Big Chief Racing, LLC; B-Lou Oppenheim (KY); T-J. Keith Desormeaux. $60,000.
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3–Blameitonthelaw, 118, c, 2, Blame–Letter of the Law, by Stormy Atlantic. ($70,000 Ylg ’14 KEESEP; $320,000 2yo ’15 OBSMAR). O-Doubledown Stables; B-Northern Bloodstock (KY); T-J W Sadler. $36,000.
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Margins: 3 3/4, 4 1/4, 1HF. Odds: 0.50, 8.80, 2.80.
Also Ran: Rockin Bayou, Annie’s Candy, Archaeo. Scratched: Nightly News, Mt Veeder. Click for the Equibase.com chart, TJCIS PPs or Equineline catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.