Nyquist captures Florida Derby, heads to Kentucky Derby as likely favorite
Your likely Kentucky Derby favorite is named after a hockey player.
Nyquist, named for Detroit Red Wings right wing Gustav Nyquist, will head to the Run for the Roses undefeated.
The top 2-year-old of 2015 rolled to victory in the Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The race, originally billed as a matchup of undefeated 3-year-olds Nyquist and Mohaymen, did not live up to its headlines. But Nyquist more than did.
He put away Mohaymen and cruised to the finish line as the 6-5 second choice behind Mohaymen.
Nyquist is 7-for-7 and has earnings of $3,000,000.
The West Coast-based Doug O'Neill trainee was in Florida for the derby because he was eligible for a $1 million bonus.
Gulfstream Park Florida Derby 2016 Replayhttps://t.co/r9f1ThRJZ1
— Glenda Morris (@GLM1964) April 2, 2016
Maybe Nyquist will finally get a little respect on the @KentuckyDerby trail. Very green finish but impressive #G1 #FloridaDerby #Gulfstream
— Benjamin Harvey (@BenjaminHarvey_) April 2, 2016
Congrats @DougONeill1! You just won $1million ;) #nyqui #FloridaDerby #kentuckyderby2016 pic.twitter.com/bfpmNBCeCx
— StormKittyKat (@stormkittykat) April 2, 2016
Nyquist's emphatic, go-to-whoa win in the #FloridaDerby stamps him the clear favourite for next month's @KentuckyDerby. @RSNSportRadio
— Ron Flatter (@ronflatter) April 2, 2016
Nyquist going straight to Kentucky from Florida. #FloridaDerby
— Laffit Pincay (@LaffitPincayTV) April 2, 2016
When you watch the Florida Derby after having Mohaymen number one on your @KentuckyDerby poll all year pic.twitter.com/Uyh12xiePO
— Ed DeRosa (@EJXD2) April 2, 2016
And for being a @FasigTiptonCo Florida 2yo sales graduate that wins the FL Derby, Nyquist gets a $1,000,000 bonus. pic.twitter.com/rPy9GLznsx
— Ramiro A. Restrepo (@RamiroRestrepo) April 2, 2016
