Undefeated Nyquist Wins Kentucky Derby

The 2016 Kentucky Derby field featured a 2-1 favorite and a lot of double digit longshots according to the oddsmakers. The favorite was Nyquist, ridden by jockey Mario Gutierrez. And true to form, Nyquist won the Derby by 1 1/4 lengths over Exaggerator, in a time of 2:01:31. It was Nyquist’s eighth victory in eight races.

With a victory in the Derby, Nyquist’s owner Paul Reddam can set his sights on the Triple Crown. Reddam is a Detroit Red Wings hockey fan who named the horse after Red Wings player Gustav Nyquist. Reddam is also the owner of 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another. That horse also ridden by Mario Gutierrez, had an injured tendon and was scratched from the Belmont Stakes. Last year, American Pharoah became the first horse in 37 years to win the Triple Crown, the 12th such winner. There have been Triple Crown winners in consecutive years only once. In 1977 Seattle Slew won, followed by Affirmed in 1978.