Nyquist (USA)
March 10, 2013 – Living
Uncle Mo (USA) x Seeking Gabrielle (USA), by Forestry (USA)
Family 6-f
March 10, 2013 – Living
Uncle Mo (USA) x Seeking Gabrielle (USA), by Forestry (USA)
Family 6-f
Unbeaten as a juvenile, when he was the champion of his crop, Nyquist maintained his perfect mark through the Kentucky Derby—Presented by Yum! Brands (USA-G1). He never won again after his Derby triumph, but his successes as a member of Uncle Mo’s first crop helped to establish that stallion among the ranks of North America’s leading sires. Nyquist has also given indications as a young stallion that he will do his part in maintaining the Caro male line to which Uncle Mo belongs, as he was the champion American freshman sire of 2020.
Race record
11 starts, 8 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$5,189,200
2015:
2016:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2015, 2 pounds above second-rated Swipe.
Rated at 123 pounds on the 2016 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for his performance in the Kentucky Derby, 11 pounds below overall highweight and American champion 3-year-old male Arrogate (who earned his rating in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, USA-G1).
As an individual
A well-made, short-coupled, athletic bay horse with a well laid shoulder, Nyquist had a smooth, efficient way of going when racing. He was retired due to a minor ankle injury that forced him to miss a planned start in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1). As a racehorse, he was professional in his demeanor and quick to learn. He had abundant natural speed and generally preferred to race on or near the lead but demonstrated the ability to come from off the pace as well.
As a stallion
According to The Blood-Horse, Nyquist was the American champion freshman sire of 2020.
Notable progeny
Gretzky the Great (USA), Immersive (USA), Johannes (USA), Randomized (USA), Slow Down Andy (USA), Tenma (USA), Vequist (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Nyquist was bred by Tim Hyde Jr.’s Summerhill Farm, which sold the colt to Madison Farm for US$180,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November mixed sale. Consigned to the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale by Dromoland, Nyquist sold there for US$230,000 to Sutton Place Farm. The colt’s next stop was the Fasig-Tipton March sale of 2-year-olds in training, where he was part of the Niall Brennan consignment and sold for US$400,000 with bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill signing the ticket. Nyquist was owned by J. Paul Reddam’s Reddam Racing, which sold his breeding rights to Darley America following the colt’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile win. He was trained by Dennis O’Neill’s brother Doug O’Neill and was ridden to his Kentucky Derby win by Ramon Gutierrez; the same owner-trainer-jockey combination had previously won the Derby (as well as the Preakness Stakes) with I’ll Have Another in 2012, who had been another 2-year-old in training purchase by Dennis O’Neill. Nyquist entered stud in 2017 in Kentucky at Darley at Jonabell.
Pedigree notes
Nyquist is inbred 5x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, who was the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is the first foal of Seeking Gabrielle, a winning half sister to Grade 3 winner Seeking the Sky (by Storm Cat), who is the dam of 2013 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Sahara Sky (by Pleasant Tap) and stakes winner Animal Sky (by Spanish Steps).
Seeking Gabrielle is out of 1994 Adirondack Stakes (USA-G2) winner Seeking Regina (by Seeking the Gold), whose full sister, juvenile listed stakes winner Oxford Scholar, is the dam of listed stakes winner Scholastic Giant (by Giant’s Causeway) and restricted stakes winner Smokin Forest (by Forestry). Seeking Regina is also a half sister to stakes winner Tutorial (by Forty Niner), dam of Grade 3 winner Dixie Band (by Dixie Union).
Seeking Regina and her sisters are out of listed stakes winner Fulbright Scholar (by Cox’s Ridge), a half sister to 1986 Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner Bachelor Beau (by Raised Socially) and stakes winner Party School (by Ward McAllister). Also a half sister to Degree (by Vanlandingham), dam of stakes winner Sunshine Scholar (by Conquistador Cielo) and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Stryker Phd, and to Ten for Ten (by Proper Reality), dam of Grade 3 winner Perfect Score, Fulbright Scholar is out of the stakes-winning Arts and Letters mare Matriculation.
Books and media
Footage of several of Nyquist’s major wins (including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby) can be viewed at Darley America’s website (https://www.darleyamerica.com/stallions/our-stallions/nyquist#section—video-footage).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait photo of Nyquist taken by Jessica Morgan in 2016 at Darley at Jonabell. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 7, 2024
Race record
11 starts, 8 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$5,189,200
2015:
- Won SentientJet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- Won Frontrunner Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1,7FD, Del Mar)
- Won Best Pal Stakes (USA-G2, 6.5FD, Del Mar)
2016:
- Won Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won San Vicente Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Xpressbet Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2015)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American champion 3-year-old male (2016)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2015, 2 pounds above second-rated Swipe.
Rated at 123 pounds on the 2016 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for his performance in the Kentucky Derby, 11 pounds below overall highweight and American champion 3-year-old male Arrogate (who earned his rating in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, USA-G1).
As an individual
A well-made, short-coupled, athletic bay horse with a well laid shoulder, Nyquist had a smooth, efficient way of going when racing. He was retired due to a minor ankle injury that forced him to miss a planned start in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1). As a racehorse, he was professional in his demeanor and quick to learn. He had abundant natural speed and generally preferred to race on or near the lead but demonstrated the ability to come from off the pace as well.
As a stallion
According to The Blood-Horse, Nyquist was the American champion freshman sire of 2020.
Notable progeny
Gretzky the Great (USA), Immersive (USA), Johannes (USA), Randomized (USA), Slow Down Andy (USA), Tenma (USA), Vequist (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Nyquist was bred by Tim Hyde Jr.’s Summerhill Farm, which sold the colt to Madison Farm for US$180,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November mixed sale. Consigned to the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale by Dromoland, Nyquist sold there for US$230,000 to Sutton Place Farm. The colt’s next stop was the Fasig-Tipton March sale of 2-year-olds in training, where he was part of the Niall Brennan consignment and sold for US$400,000 with bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill signing the ticket. Nyquist was owned by J. Paul Reddam’s Reddam Racing, which sold his breeding rights to Darley America following the colt’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile win. He was trained by Dennis O’Neill’s brother Doug O’Neill and was ridden to his Kentucky Derby win by Ramon Gutierrez; the same owner-trainer-jockey combination had previously won the Derby (as well as the Preakness Stakes) with I’ll Have Another in 2012, who had been another 2-year-old in training purchase by Dennis O’Neill. Nyquist entered stud in 2017 in Kentucky at Darley at Jonabell.
Pedigree notes
Nyquist is inbred 5x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, who was the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is the first foal of Seeking Gabrielle, a winning half sister to Grade 3 winner Seeking the Sky (by Storm Cat), who is the dam of 2013 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Sahara Sky (by Pleasant Tap) and stakes winner Animal Sky (by Spanish Steps).
Seeking Gabrielle is out of 1994 Adirondack Stakes (USA-G2) winner Seeking Regina (by Seeking the Gold), whose full sister, juvenile listed stakes winner Oxford Scholar, is the dam of listed stakes winner Scholastic Giant (by Giant’s Causeway) and restricted stakes winner Smokin Forest (by Forestry). Seeking Regina is also a half sister to stakes winner Tutorial (by Forty Niner), dam of Grade 3 winner Dixie Band (by Dixie Union).
Seeking Regina and her sisters are out of listed stakes winner Fulbright Scholar (by Cox’s Ridge), a half sister to 1986 Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner Bachelor Beau (by Raised Socially) and stakes winner Party School (by Ward McAllister). Also a half sister to Degree (by Vanlandingham), dam of stakes winner Sunshine Scholar (by Conquistador Cielo) and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Stryker Phd, and to Ten for Ten (by Proper Reality), dam of Grade 3 winner Perfect Score, Fulbright Scholar is out of the stakes-winning Arts and Letters mare Matriculation.
Books and media
Footage of several of Nyquist’s major wins (including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby) can be viewed at Darley America’s website (https://www.darleyamerica.com/stallions/our-stallions/nyquist#section—video-footage).
Fun facts
- Nyquist was named for hockey player Gustav Nyquist, a star forward for the Detroit Red Wings (J. Paul Reddam’s favorite team) at the time the colt was named.
- Colorado Avalanche hockey player Erik Johnson, a friend of Reddam’s who often bought minority interests in Reddam’s horses, wanted to buy in on Nyquist, but Reddam said no. The reason? Johnson had openly said he would never play for the Red Wings, and Reddam was afraid that making him a co-owner would jinx the horse.
- On the morning of the 2016 Kentucky Derby, the National Hockey League sent its championship trophy, the Stanley Cup, to Churchill Downs for a photo with Nyquist. The human Nyquist had been invited to join Reddam in the owner’s box to watch his namesake run but had been unable to attend due to a prior commitment to play for the Swedish national team in the world hockey championships. (His honoring of that commitment was rewarded; the night before the Derby, Gustav Nyquist scored the winning goal for Sweden in the team’s opening-round game against Latvia.)
- Nyquist was the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby while unbeaten since Smarty Jones in 2004 and was the first juvenile champion since Seattle Slew in 1977 to become an unbeaten Kentucky Derby winner.
- Nyquist was the second horse to win both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby. The first was Street Sense, who won the Juvenile in 2006 and the Derby in 2007.
- Nyquist is the namesake for the Nyquist Stakes, a juvenile event at Keeneland.
Photo credit
Portrait photo of Nyquist taken by Jessica Morgan in 2016 at Darley at Jonabell. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 7, 2024