Undefeated Nyquist Looms in FrontRunner

Undefeated Nyquist looms a short-priced favorite as he tries two turns for the first time in the $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 26 at Santa Anita Park.

A runaway winner of the Sept. 7 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) for Reddam Racing and trainer Doug O'Neill, the bay colt by first-crop sire Uncle Mo   tries two turns for the first time in a field of eight juveniles going 1 1/16 miles. The FrontRunner is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event for the Oct. 31 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Keeneland.

Nyquist followed up on a gutty first-out maiden win going five furlongs at Santa Anita with impressive wins in both the Aug. 8 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) going 6 1/2 furlongs and the seven furlong Del Mar Futurity—taking both by a combined nine lengths. He has drawn post 4 for this event, and will have regular rider Mario Gutierrez in the irons again.

Nyquist was bet down to even money in the Best Pal and was hammered to 1-2 favoritism in the Del Mar Futurity. With earnings of $333,600, he will attempt to follow in the footsteps of last year's FrontRunner winner, eventual Triple Crown Champ American Pharoah. 

Second to Nyquist in both the Del Mar Futurity and Best Pal Stakes, trainer Keith Desormeaux's Swipe will try to turn the tables on the top selection in his first run around two turns. The Birdstone   colt has come from off the pace in his one-turn starts under Kent Desormeaux. He'll try for his second win in six starts for Big Chief Racing. Keith Desormeaux also will send out Go Long off a sixth in the one-mile Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes as well.

A rousing 4 1/4 length first-out maiden winner going five furlongs over a sloppy strip Aug. 2, Blameitonthelaw was subsequently third, beaten eight lengths by Nyquist in the Del Mar Futurity. Trained by John Sadler and ridden by Tyler Baze in both starts, the son of Blame   will also try two turns for the first time for Doubledown Stables.

Rockingham Ranch's Hollywood Don took the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Sept. 5 and will make his main track debut in the FrontRunner. Trained by Peter Miller, the Tapit   colt has two wins from three starts, all with Brice Blanc in the irons.

Completing the field is Tarabilla Farms' Juvenile Turf fourth-place finisher Rare Candy, Arnold Zetcher's maiden winner On Fire, and Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton's Mt Veeder, who won the Sept. 13 Contender Stakes at Los Alamitos for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Baffert, with seven previous FrontRunner victories, has won the race more times than any other trainer.