Nyquist ran a perfect Kentucky Derby to validate his perfect career. He came out of the race in perfect health and made his way to Baltimore in perfect order.
Sensing a theme here?
As the Doug O’Neill-trained colt prepares for the 141st Preakness on Saturday, he does so as the rare horse with a genuinely flawless resume. He won all five of his races as a 2-year-old, including the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Now, he’s unbeaten in three races as a 3-year-old, including the most coveted of them all, the Derby.
Already, the questions have moved beyond Nyquist’s individual competitors and on to matters of history. American Pharoah broke a 37-year Triple Crown drought in 2015. Now, Nyquist is an increasingly popular choice to do what Affirmed did in 1978 and make it two in a row.