Nyquist Takes Del Mar Futurity Under Wraps

Reddam Racing's Nyquist, the 1-2 favorite in a field of six, easily won the Sept. 7 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) over Swipe. The winner, a son of first-crop sire Uncle Mo  , was geared down under the line by jockey Mario Gutierrez. The official winning margin was 3 3/4 lengths.



Nyquist, now three-for-three and winner of the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 8 at Del Mar, covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.28. Blameitonthelaw was another 4 1/4 lengths back in third.



The win bookended a spectacular day for J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O'Neill ,as the duo combined to win the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course with Ralis. O'Neill becomes the first trainer to win both races in the same year.



"After the Hopeful I was excited," Reddam said after the race. "I was so excited I forgot to bet the Pick 6. Before the Futurity I was nervous because he (Nyquist) was the odds-on favorite. Only bad things can happen. I'm glad it's over."

It was O'Neill's second Futurity win. He sent out Stevie Wonderboy to victory in 2005. Last year's Futurity winner was American Pharoah.



Rockin Bayou hopped twice coming out of the gate from the outside post position, but it was Annie's Candy from the inside who got the early lead. Third in the Best Pal, Annie's Candy led through the early stages of the Futurity with splits of :22.44 and :44.54. Nyquist, who was tracking in third early, moved to challenge the leader, and quicky disposed of Annie's Candy as the field turned for home. Rockin Bayou gave chace, futilely, as Swipe made a bid from the outside. After six furlongs in 1:09.80, Gutierrez geared the winner down in the final strides.



Bred in Kentucky by Summerhill Farm, the Futurity winner is the first foal out of the Forestry mare Seeking Gabrielle. She has a yearling filly by Blame   and was bred to Flatter   for 2016. Seeking Gabrielle is out of Adirondack Stakes (gr. II) winner Seeking Regina and a half sister to grade III winner Seeking the Sky, the dam of Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) winner Sahara Sky.



Dennis O'Neill, Doug's brother, purchased Nyquist for $400,000 as a 2-year-old earlier this year from Niall Brennan Stables, agent, at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale. Nyquist had sold twice previously: for $180,000 as weanling at Keeneland in November 2013 to Madison Farm from Paramount Sales, agent, and Sutton Place Stables purchased him as a yearling from Gerry Dilger's Dromoland Farm,agent, for $230,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.



Nightly News and Mt Veeder were scratched reducing the field to six.



The winner paid $3, $2.20, and $2.10. Swipe returned $4.40 and $2.60, and Blameitonthelaw paid $2.40 to show. The $1 exacta, 5-3, paid $6.20.