Nyquist Has Draw to Overcome in Juvenile

Nyquist, undefeated in four starts and a two-time grade I winner, drew post 13 for the $2 million Sentient Jets Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

The 1 1/16-mile Juvenile for 2-year-olds attracted what appears to be a very competitive group, including the top three finishers in the Oct. 3 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland. A full field of 14 was entered.

Reddam Racing's Nyquist parlayed a narrow maiden win in his career debut into three consecutive stakes victories: the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) and Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) at Del Mar, and the FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park in his last start. The Uncle Mo   colt has been on or near the lead in all four of his races.

Reddam Racing and O'Neill also have the homebred Square Eddie   colt Ralis in the Juvenile. He won the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course in August and then finished sixth in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park on a sloppy track. Indications are Ralis, who drew post 10 for the Juvenile, has thrived while training at Keeneland.

Albaugh Family Stable's Brody's Cause, a Giant's Causeway   colt trained by Dale Romans, won the Breeders' Futurity from well off the pace over fellow Juvenile entrants Exaggerator and Rated R Superstar. They have an advantage of having raced on the dirt at Keeneland.

Brody's Cause made his career debut Aug. 1 going one mile on the turf at Ellis Park and really didn't pick up his feet, but Romans said he wasn't concerned. The trainer said he likes letting some of his 2-year-olds stay in Kentucky rather than ship to Saratoga.

"A few years ago we started leaving horses behind to run at Ellis Park to get some good experience," Romans said. "That was one of the worst races any of my horses has run. Then he broke his maiden at Churchill Downs, and he ran a great race in the Breeders' Futurity. He's done nothing but show me he'll run his best race at Keeneland."

Brody's Cause landed post 7, while Exaggerator drew post 9 and Rated R Superstar post 6.

The other grade I winner in the field is St. Elias Stable, MeB Racing Stables, and Brooklyn Boyz Racing Stables' Greenpointcrusader, who won the one-turn-mile Champagne. The Bernardini   colt trained by Dominick Schettino would be undefeated if not for a narrow loss in his first start at Saratoga.

Greenpointcrusader, who will make his first start around two turns in the Juvenile, drew post 3.