NYQUIST won the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs, holding off a late push from Exaggerator. Gun Runner placed third.
Nyquist, this year’s favorite at 2–1 odds, drew Gate 13, the same position he started from before winning last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He became the fifth horse since 1990 to win from the No. 13 spot. The most recent prior to Nyquist was Smarty Jones in 2004.
Nyquist (right) wins the 2016 Kentucky Derby.
After Nyquist, Exaggerator had the second-best odds of winning at 5–1, with Gun Runner coming in at 10–1.
Nyquist was ridden by Mario Gutierrez and trained by Doug O’Neill.
Gutierrez was aboard Derby winner I’ll Have Another in 2012 in his only other start in the Run for the Roses. He became the first jockey to win his first two Derby races.
Owner Paul Reddam, who also raced I’ll Have Another said: “I only thought to this (race). Maybe later tonight we’ll think about two weeks from now. Having been close to a possible Triple Crown (in 2012) made me realise it doesn’t happen until it happens, so we’re going to enjoy this moment.”
Nyquist was named for Swedish ice hockey player Gustav Nyquist. who plays for the Detroit Red Wings. The team tweeted its congratulations.
A total of 167,227 people attended the Derby, the second-highest attendance ever for the race. Last year, there were 170,513 fans.
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