Post Positions Set for Florida Derby Showdown

It remains to be seen whether Mohaymen or Nyquist will blink when the two undefeated colts clash in the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (gr. I) April 2 at Gulfstream Park. Their connections certainly have not.

"It would be nice to have a little challenge, more of a challenge than we've had," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said of Mohaymen. The son of Tapit   was established as an even-money favorite under jockey Junior Alvarado after he received post 9 in a field of 10 when positions were drawn Wednesday morning at Gulfstream's Sport of Kings Theater.

Said Doug O'Neill, who oversees Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner (gr. I) and last year's 2-year-old champion Nyquist: "You've got to stay optimistic when you have a real nice horse like Nyquist. Great things could happen."

The Uncle Mo   colt drew post 4 for regular rider Mario Gutierrez. He was listed as the second choice at 6-5 for his second start of the year; he won the Feb. 15 San Vincente Stakes (gr. I) in his first start since taking the Juvenile.

Florida Derby draw chart

"I like it," O'Neill said of the draw. "Nyquist has got enough gate speed that I don't think the post matters that much."

LAMARRA: Mutual Respect in McLaughlin, O'Neill Camps

Five weeks before they chase the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), the stakes are huge for both star 3-year-olds as they tower over the rest of their Florida Derby competition in one of the most anticipated prep races in recent history.

Mohaymen, a $2.2 million yearling purchase for Shadwell Stable at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale, stamped himself as the best of his class on the East Coast by extending his early record to 5 for 5 with convincing victories in two previous grade II preps at Gulfstream, the Lambholm South Holy Bull and Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth.

PEDULLA: Mohaymen Dominates Fountain of Youth

This will be his first grade I test, one that would go a long way toward establishing his breeding value. McLaughlin had that very much on his mind when he called the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby "an important race for us."

The financial incentive is even more tangible for J. Paul Reddam, who purchased Nyquist for $400,000 as a 2-year-old in training at Fasig-Tipton's Florida sale. Fasig-Tipton is offering a $1 million bonus to any graduate of that sale who goes on to win the Florida Derby.

O'Neill has insisted all along that the five-week interval preceding the May 7 Kentucky Derby is the most compelling reason to ship his six-for-six champion to Gulfstream. He cannot help but think of the bonus as well. "It definitely is intriguing," he said.

In an effort to keep Nyquist as fresh as possible for the Triple Crown races, he will travel from Gulfstream Park to Keeneland in Lexington to prepare for the Kentucky Derby rather than journey back to the West Coast. In preparation for the Florida Derby after arriving at Gulfstream March 29, Nyquist went to the track for some light exercise and visited the starting gate. Mohaymen continues to train at Palm Meadows training center.

BALAN: Nyquist Scores in San Vicente, Still Unbeaten

Keeneland represents the site of Nyquist's greatest triumph. Although he was bumped hard at the start and endured a wide trip, he was rugged enough and fast enough to win the Juvenile by one-half length. The Florida Derby will mark only his second start outside of California. This will be his first attempt at getting 1 1/8 miles.

MITCHELL: Nyquist Scores in BC Juvenile

McLaughlin draws confidence from knowing that Mohaymen has succeeded at the distance. The handy gray-roan colt sat mid-pack before launching an overpowering move to take the Remsen (gr. II) by 1 1/2 lengths last Nov. 28 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"We definitely get the mile-and-an-eighth," McLaughlin said. "That's a question for (Nyquist)."

O'Neill expects his horse to answer that question as he has every other—affirmatively.

"He's proven at a mile-and-a-sixteenth," O'Neill said, noting the Juvenile distance. "There is nothing in my mind to say that he can't go farther."