Nyquist

It's not what you would think. Not the invincible, fist-pumping, chest-bumping days. No, the real bond is forged exactly where the rest of us would least imagine—in the moments of disappointment, moments of doubt. That's where you really learn about each other. "Honestly, thinking back, what I remember most is those bus rides back from games we lost," says Patrick O'Neill. "And that's crazy to say. We were very competitive. Second or third, pretty much every year we played in the Ivy League. But it's those losses where you really...

The GI Kentucky Derby-bound Helium (Ironicus) wasn't the only 3-year-old colt to impress on the GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby card Mar. 6. Untreated (Nyquist) put on a show earlier that day as well, graduating by a pole for Todd Pletcher at second asking with a flashy, come-from-behind maiden tally in his two-turn debut (video). He earned a very solid 86 Beyer Speed Figure. A well-beaten sixth as the 4-5 favorite behind next out GIII Sam F. Davis S. winner Candy Man Rocket (Candy Ride {Arg}) going six furlongs...

Seven more juveniles matched Thursday's fastest furlong of :9 4/5 during Friday's second of three under-tack previews for the OBS March sale, while another two tied the top quarter-mile time of :20 2/5. Hip 220, the morning's first breezer, kicked off a strong day for last year's leading first-crop sire Nyquist. Consigned by Top Line Sales, Agent XVII, she was one of two Nyquist fillies to go in :9 4/5. The $67,000 KEESEP RNA, a June 3 foal, is out of a half to speedy GSW This Ones for Phil...

Reigning Eclipse Award-winning juvenile filly Vequist (Nyquist) was bet like she could not lose her 3-year-old debut in Saturday's GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Park, but she never so much as truly reached contention, as Wholebodemeister (Bodemeister) got loose and brave on the lead and scampered clear to cause a 52-1 boilover. Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) was a bit hesitant to load, but closed off decently for second ahead of 53-1 Competitive Speed (Competitive Edge) in third. Drawn the fence with Edgard Zayas calling the shots, Wholebodemeister put herself...

Eleven rivals will be waiting to take on recently crowned champion Vequist (Nyquist) in Saturday's GII Davona Dale S. going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park. The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine, campaigned in partnership by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and breeder Swilcan Stable, earned her diploma at second asking with a daylight tally in Saratoga's GI Spinaway S. Sept. 6. Second behind Dayoutoftheoffice (Into Mischief) as the 4-5 favorite in the GI Frizette S. at Belmont Oct. 10, she turned the tables on that rival with a two-length...

The fireworks at the annual Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton November sales are always a highlight of the year as seven-figure bids abound on some of racing's top broodmares and broodmare prospects. But after the dust settles, it can be years before words get out on the breeding careers of the sales' top offerings. We caught up with the connections of a few of these most recent million-dollar broodmares and learned of their mating plans for 2021 in the first edition of our 'Million-Dollar Matings' series.   LADY AURELIA (Scat Daddy-D'Wildcat Speed,...

4th-Aqueduct, $77,600, Msw, 2-8, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:38.47, ft, 15 1/2 lengths. MO DESSERTS (f, 3, Nyquist--Frozen Treat, by Dynaformer) was third behind Monday's Ruthless S. third-place finisher Dealing Justice (Commissioner) and the reopposing O'Gotten Girl (Competitive Edge) in her six-furlong debut at this oval Jan. 10. The 6-5 second choice prompted the pace from the rail as 4-5 favorite O'Gotten Girl was narrowly in front. Mo Desserts grabbed command nearing the far turn and, while the favorite kept her company on the bend, she shrugged off that foe at...

Vequist (Nyquist) cemented her status as the leader of what appeared to be an open division earlier in the fall with a decisive score in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 6. The dark bay finished second in her July 29 debut at Parx, but her connections clearly had plenty of faith in her after that effort, sending her to Saratoga for the GI Spinaway S. Sept. 6. She demolished the field that day, earning her diploma by 9 1/2 lengths and becoming her freshman sire's first Grade I...

The stallions we reach today are the first actually to have given some initial clue as to their ability to replicate those assets that earned them a place at stud. True, only their most precocious stock have so far tested the water and it should be obvious that limited conclusions can be drawn from so small a sample of their work. But we know the apathy of commercial breeders about producing racehorses. So long as they maximize their value as yearlings, the rest is gravy. That's why they get behind...

Already a winner of the GI Kentucky Derby with 2016 hero Nyquist (Uncle Mo) and I'll Have Another (Flower Alley) in 2012, trainer Doug O'Neill is looking forward to the New Year with Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), Wipe the Slate (Nyquist) and Team Merchants (Nyquist) among his well-regarded sophomores. Hot Rod Charlie worked five furlongs at Santa Anita Saturday in a bullet :59.40, fastest of 64 drills at the distance. A narrow winner in his fourth career start at Santa Anita on October, Hot Rod Charlie closed to finish second-at...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 3rd-Gulfstream, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 1:05 p.m. ET One week after 'TDN Rising Star' Mutasaabeq made a victorious sophomore debut in the Mucho Macho Man S., Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stable is set to be represented by another son of Into Mischief in the form of first-time starter LAMUTANAATTY. Pegged as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, the $177K Fasig-Tipton November weanling turned $700K Keeneland September yearling is out of a winning daughter of MSW Win's Fair Lady (Dehere), a full-sister to...

6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $20,000, Msw, 12-9, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.24, ft, 13 1/4 lengths. WITSEL (c, 2, Nyquist--Bailzee {SP, $152,580}, by Grand Slam), sent off at 5-1 to become the 16th career winner for his GI Kentucky Derby-winning sire (by Uncle Mo), showed good early foot to settle just behind pace setter Thrown For A Loupe (Gemologist), who showed the way through a :22.62 quarter. Scraping the paint while 8-5 choice Equuleus (Maclean's Music) loomed three wide as the leading charged for the quarter-mile pole, Witzel gained the advantage turning for...