Nyquist (Uncle Mo) continued the hot streak of owner Reddam Racing and trainer Doug O'Neill with a dominant display in Saturday's GII Best Pal S. at Del Mar. The 2-year-old became the second graded stakes winner for his freshman sire, 2010 juvenile champion Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie).
“I think it's safe to say he stays number one of our 2-year-olds,” O'Neill, winning his third stakes of the Del Mar meet, smiled. “Physically and mentally, he's the best. But you never know, things can change so quickly, good and bad, for 2-year-olds. If he stays injury-free, he's got the mind of a champ.”
The Best Pal's field of six was away in good order, bar Paynes Prairie (Tale of Ekati), who swerved and looked to take an awkward step before dropping out the back. Fellow Reddam colorbearer Found Money (Square Eddie) was quickest of the bunch, but each of his rivals was tugging against their riders, as the opening sectional was posted in just :22.82. Bistraya (Haynesfield) tried to slide up the fence to prompt the pace, but Mario Gutierrez always had Nyquist ready to roll and edged up three wide into the lane. He quickly put a few lengths on his foes and was never in danger from there, coming home 5 1/4 lengths as Swipe (Birdstone) made belated and green progress to finish just ahead of Annie's Candy (Twirling Candy). The final time of 1:16.84 was just 0.26 seconds quicker than the time recorded by 'TDN Rising Star' Young Brian (Hard Spun) in race three.
“It didn't really go as we thought, the pace was slower than we expected early,” Doug O'Neill added. “But Mario got him settled down behind a slow pace and he finished strong and showed the quality that he is. Pretty exciting.”
Asked if the Sept. 7 GI Del Mar Futurity would be next for Nyquest, O'Neill said, “I like the sound of that.”
Nyquest's win was the second stakes win of the Del Mar meeting for J. Paul Reddam's Reddam Racing, which now has nine winners at the stand.
A $400,000 purchase out of this year's Fasig-Tipton Florida March sale after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 2/5, Nyquest fought every step of the way to earn a head decision over Annie's Candy in a five-furlong maiden at Santa Anita June 5. The winner's dam, Seeking Gabrielle, with this foal in utero, RNA'd for $90,000 at the 2012 Keeneland November sale. In foal to Blame, she brought $100,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November sale. Seeking Gabrielle produced a filly by the GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner in 2014, and was bred to Flatter this year. The mare is a half-sister to the dam of Grade I winner Sahara Sky.
Saturday, Del Mar
BEST PAL S.-GII, $200,250, DMR, 8-8, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:16.84, ft.
1–#@NYQUIST, 119, 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 '14
KEESEP; $400,000 2yo '15 FTFMAR). O-Reddam
Racing LLC; B-Summerhill Farm (KY); T-Doug F.
O'Neill; J-Mario Gutierrez. $120,000. Lifetime
Record: 2-2-0-0, $153,600. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Swipe, 121, 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. $40,000.
3–Annie's Candy, 119, c, 2, Twirling Candy–Wildcat
Princess, by Forest Wildcat. ($52,000 Wlg '13
KEENOV; $55,000 RNA Ylg '14 KEESEP; $105,000
2yo '15 BARMAR). O-Chad Littlefield & Rockingham
Ranch; B-FirstCorp Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Peter
Miller. $24,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, HF, 4HF. Odds: 1.00, 2.80, 6.00.
Also Ran: Bistraya, Found Money, Paynes Prairie.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS PPs or the Nyquist.pdf">free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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