AP DERBY TOP 10: It’s still Nyquist, of course

Associated PressApr 5, 2016, 2:48 AM EDT

AP Photo

NEW YORK — And now, a few words about undefeated horses running in the Kentucky Derby – Nyquist, specifically.

After the 3-year-old colt blew away now once-beaten Mohaymen in winning the Florida Derby on Saturday, Nyquist boosted his record to 7-for-7.

The son of Uncle Mo again proved more than worthy of his No. 1 spot on the AP’s Top 10 list of Kentucky Derby contenders. He’s also the 3-1 favorite in the Derby’s final future wager odds.

As for becoming an unbeaten Derby winner, Nyquist will be bucking longer odds. Of the 26 unbeatens that entered the Derby starting gate in the past 100 years, seven were still undefeated after the Run for the Roses. That would put Nyquist’s odds of winning a little better than 4-1.

Nyquist, though, will be the first horse taking a 7-0 or better record into the Derby in 26 years – since Mister Frisky ran eighth in 1990 after winning 16 in a row (the first 13 in Puerto Rico). Big Brown in 2008, Barbaro in 2006 and Smarty Jones in 2004 all won the Derby, but came into the race with six or fewer wins.

Seattle Slew remains the only undefeated Triple Crown winner, coming into the races at 6-0 and then sweeping the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1977.

The other unbeaten Derby winners are Majestic Prince (1969), Morvich (1922) and Regret (1915).

Onward to May 7.

Even with a fourth-place finish, Mohaymen still has five wins in six starts and doesn’t lose much ground this week, dropping one spot to No. 3. Louisiana Derby winner Gun Runner moves up to No. 2, and Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert has No. 4 Cupid and No. 7 Mor Spirit.

Huge changes are likely after Saturday’s trio of Derby preps – Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, Santa Anita Derby and Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

All three carry a total of 180 Derby qualifying points – 100 for first, 50 for second, 20 for third and 10 for fourth. Finish first or second – maybe even third – and a spot in a full 20-horse field is all but set.

-The Wood features undefeated Shagaf (3-0) in a field that could total 10.

-The Santa Anita Derby will have a small but deep field in Danzing Candy, Mor Spirit and Exaggerator. Danzing Candy beat Mor Spirit in the San Felipe last month.

-The Blue Grass field keeps growing, with as many as 13 starters possible. Among them are Zulu, Brody’s Cause and American Dubai.

Wrapping up last weekend’s preps:

-The rare pre-Derby duel between best in the East (Mohaymen) and best in the West (Nyquist) was brief – and decisive. A brilliant ride by Nyquist jockey Mario Gutierrez appeared the big reason.

With Mohaymen racing outside of Nyquist, Gutierrez allowed Nyquist to drift further out coming around the far turn. That forced Junior Alvarado aboard Mohaymen even further outside toward the center of the track. At that point, Nyquist pulled away and beat Majesto by 3 1/4 lengths.

“I saw the gray horse (Mohaymen) coming and I decided if he was going to pass me,” Gutierrez said, “he was going to do it running wide.”

-At Turfway Park, 23-1 shot Oscar Nominated prevailed in the Spiral Stakes to earn 50 Derby qualifying points. Problem is he’ still not Triple Crown nominated. However, owner Ken Ramsey says the supplemental entry fee of $200,000 will be paid. He now tells the Courier-Journal that someone has accepted his offer and stepped forward to pay the fee for a chance to split any earnings the horse gets from Triple Crown races.

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Here’s our Top 10:

1. Nyquist (Doug O’Neill, trainer; Mario Gutierrez, jockey): Won Florida Derby with ease over chief rival Mohaymen. … Will be first Derby starter unbeaten in seven or more starts since Mister Frisky in 1990. … Arrived at Keeneland to train. … Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 7. … Derby odds (final future wager): 3-1.

2. Gun Runner (Steve Asmussen, Florent Geroux): Louisiana Derby winner may have what it takes to deal with big Derby field. … Worked 4 furlongs in 50.60 under Geroux at Churchill Downs on Monday. … Has four wins in five races. … Next start: Kentucky Derby. … Odds: 25-1.

3. Mohaymen (Kiaran McLaughlin, Junior Alvarado): Don’t give up on this talented gray colt. … Just didn’t kick in when taking on Nyquist in Florida Derby. … Next start: Kentucky Derby. … Odds: 13-1.

4. Cupid (Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia): Rebel winner loving Santa Anita before return to Arkansas. … Won last two starts after two career-opening losses. … Next start: Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, April 16. … Odds: 11-1.

5. Danzing Candy (Cliff Sise Jr., Mike Smith): San Felipe winner has chance to move up with win this weekend. .. Worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.60 at Santa Anita on Saturday. … Next start: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita Park, Saturday. … Odds: 16-1.

6. Shagaf (Chad Brown, Irad Ortiz Jr.): A Wood win and colt would come into Derby with 4-0 record. … Gotham winner worked 4 furlongs in 48.40 at Belmont on Saturday. … Next start: Wood Memorial, Aqueduct, Saturday. … Odds: 17-1.

7. Mor Spirit (Baffert, Gary Stevens): Looking to avenge San Felipe loss. … With Cupid and Mor Spirit, Baffert could have another 1-2 Derby punch. … Next start: Santa Anita Derby. … Odds: 11-1.

8. Lani (Mikio Matsunaga, Yutaka Take): UAE Derby winner settling in at Churchill Downs. … Bred in Kentucky, races in Japan. Next start: Kentucky Derby. … Odds: 25-1.

9. Destin (Todd Pletcher, Javier Castellano): Tampa Bay Derby winner looking to make it three in a row with win in final Derby prep. … Next start: Arkansas Derby … Odds: 16-1.

10. Zulu (Pletcher, John Velazquez): Fountain of Youth runner-up worked 4 furlongs in 49.07 at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday. … Next start: Blue Grass, Keeneland, Saturday. … Odds: 34-1.

**Keep an eye on: Brody’s Cause, Exaggerator, Mo Tom, Outwork, Whitmore.**

Forte works out, waits for Belmont Stakes clearance

Associated PressMay 27, 2023, 3:14 PM EDT

Matt Stone/USA TODAY NETWORK

NEW YORK — Forte, the early Kentucky Derby favorite who was scratched on the day of the race, worked out in preparation for a possible start in the Belmont Stakes on June 10.

Under regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr., Forte worked five-eighths of a mile for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. It was the colt’s second workout since being scratched from the Derby on May 6.

“It seems like he’s maintained his fitness level,” Pletcher said. “It seems like everything is in good order.”

Forte was placed on a mandatory 14-day veterinary list after being scratched from the Derby because of a bruised right front foot. In order to be removed from the list, the colt had to work in front of a state veterinarian and give a blood sample afterward, the results of which take five days.

“There’s protocols in place and we had to adhere to those and we’re happy that everything went smoothly,” Pletcher said. “We felt confident the horse was in good order or we wouldn’t have been out there twice in the last six days, but you still want to make sure everything went smoothly and we’re happy everything did go well.”

Pletcher said Kingsbarns, who finished 14th in the Kentucky Derby, will miss the Belmont. The colt is showing signs of colic, although he is fine, the trainer said.

Another Pletcher-trained horse, Prove Worthy, is under consideration for the Belmont. He also has Tapit Trice, who finished seventh in the Derby, being pointed toward the Belmont.

Judge grants Churchill Downs’ request for summary judgment to dismiss Bob Baffert’s lawsuit

Associated PressMay 25, 2023, 9:36 PM EDT

Abbey Cutrer/USA TODAY NETWORK

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A federal judge has granted Churchill Downs’ motion for summary judgment that dismisses Bob Baffert’s claim the track breached due process by suspending the Hall of Fame trainer for two years.

Churchill Downs Inc. suspended Baffert in June 2021 after his now-deceased colt, Medina Spirit, failed a postrace drug test after crossing the finish line first in the 147th Kentucky Derby. The trainer’s request to lift the discipline was denied in February, keeping him out of the Derby for a second consecutive May.

U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings ruled in a 12-page opinion issued Wednesday that Churchill Downs’ suspension of Baffert did not devalue his Kentucky trainer’s license. It cited his purse winnings exceeding $1 million at Keeneland in Lexington and stated that his argument “amounts to a false analogy that distorts caselaw.”

Jennings denied CDI’s motion to stay discovery as moot.

The decision comes less than a week after Baffert-trained colt National Treasure won the Preakness in his first Triple Crown race in two years. His record eighth win in the second jewel of the Triple Crown came hours after another of his horses, Havnameltdown, was euthanized following an injury at Pimlico.

Churchill Downs said in a statement that it was pleased with the court’s favorable ruling as in Baffert’s other cases.

It added, “While he may choose to file baseless appeals, this completes the seemingly endless, arduous and unnecessary litigation proceedings instigated by Mr. Baffert.”

Baffert’s suspension is scheduled to end on June 2, but the track’s release noted its right to extend it “and will communicate our decision” at its conclusion.