Trainer Doug O'Neill used the 2016 San Vicente Stakes (G2) to launch Nyquist's 3-year-old campaign toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and could have another Triple Crown contender after the 2017 edition.
Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes races in North America. This week Tampa Bay Downs gets the spotlight with three graded stakes Saturday.
Five maiden winners will look to break through for their first graded score Feb. 12 in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
Jockey Malcolm Franklin rode his 1,000th winner Feb. 4, when he guided Belvin to a head victory in the fourth race at Turfway Park.
This week we take a closer look at Nyquist, the 2015 Sentient Jet Breeders' Juvenile (gr. I) victor and winner of the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) on Feb. 15 at Santa Anita Park.
Juvenile champion Nyquist stars in the San Vicente and more inside the February 20, 2016 Blood-Horse magazine!
Undefeated Nyquist showed no signs of rust in his 2016 debut Feb. 15, when he took the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park.
Nyquist's first step onto the Triple Crown trail comes Feb. 15 at Santa Anita Park, where he'll look to keep his undefeated record intact against five other sophomore males in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II).
Doug O'Neill wanted a swift, short breeze from Reddam Racing's Nyquist eight days ahead of his 3-year-old debut in the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) and that's what he got Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park.
Texas Red, winner of the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), is back in training at Santa Anita Park and is scheduled to record his first timed workout of 2016 on Feb. 13 at the Southern California racetrack.
With up to two inches of rain expected Jan. 31 in Southern California, trainer Doug O'Neill moved Nyquist's regular Sunday work up a day to Jan. 30, and the champion 2-year-old male of 2015 impressed on the track once again.
Undefeated Nyquist ran a full lap around the Santa Anita Park main track during a workout Jan. 24, but was officially given a time of 1:15 3/5 for six furlongs.
Nyquist, the morning after securing the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male of 2015, worked five furlongs on Santa Anita Park's fast main track Jan. 17 in 1:00 4/5.
Undefeated Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Nyquist worked six furlongs on Santa Anita Park's fast main track Sunday morning in 1:14 flat as he prepares for his 3-year-old debut.
Spendthrift Farm's Shakin It Up, winner of the Malibu (gr. I), Strub (gr. II), and San Vicente (gr. II) stakes, sired his first reported foal late Jan. 6, when a colt was born at Brandywine Farm in Paris, Ky.
Undefeated Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Nyquist worked four furlongs on Santa Anita Park's fast main track Dec. 27 in preparation for his 3-year-old debut in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II).
Distinctiv Passion, in his first start since an off-the-board finish in Dubai in late March, popped the gate and never looked back en route to victory in the $100,000 Los Angeles Stakes (gr. III) May 25 at Santa Anita Park.
Five Palms, a lightly raced 5-year-old trained by Bob Baffert, will make his first trip into stakes waters in the $100,000 Los Angeles Stakes (gr. III) May 25 at Santa Anita Park.
Brazilian Triple Crown winner Bal a Bali made a splash in his U.S. debut, capturing the $100,000 American Stakes (gr. IIIT) May 9 at Santa Anita Park.
Bal a Bali will look to carry his impressive success in Brazil into his first U.S. start, the $100,000 American Stakes (gr. IIIT) May 9 at Santa Anita Park.
Texas Red ran second in his 3-year-old debut, finishing a neck behind Peachtree Stable's Lord Nelson in the $200,250 San Vicente Stakes read blog
Lord Nelson spoiled the 3-year-old coming-out party for Texas Red in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 1, edging the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner in a terrific finish.
It may be Super Bowl Sunday but the eyes of the racing world will be on Texas Red as the overwhelming Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner returns to Santa Anita Park in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II).
Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Texas Red is likely to have three starts on the early Triple Crown trail, according to trainer Keith Desormeaux, beginning with the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 1.
Garden Secrets, the dam of Acorn Stakes (gr. I) winner Forest Secrets and a half sister to Hall of Famer Silverbulletday, was euthanized July 22 at Glenary Farm near Frankfort, Ky.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Belvin | David Ashcraft |
|
| Caballo Del Cielo | Steven M. Asmussen |
|
| Mudflats | Scott P. Hammond |
|
| Shakin It Up | Bob Baffert |
|
| Treasury Bill | Ronald W. Ellis |
|
| War Academy | Bob Baffert |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Elbert S. | ARP | |
| Norm Barron Queen City Oaks | BTP | |
| Wickerr S. | DMR | |
| San Clemente H. (G2T) | DMR | |
| Washington Oaks | EMD |
Get the latest insider news, analysis, entries and results on your phone or sent to your email!
Sign up for our free weekly email newsletters and alerts, filled with race previews and results, news of the week, or breaking news.
Sign Up
