Will Nyquist inherit Pharoah’s crown?

KENTUCKY DERBY: Trainer calls undefeated dark bay colt ‘the best horse I’ve ever been around’

LOUISVILLE — The doubting of Nyquist’s super-horse candidacy ended late Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

No longer should the dark bay colt be analyzed with skepticism. No longer should his undefeated record be tempered by “yeah, but ...” muttering. No longer should we assume that life after American Pharoah is destined to be a letdown.

In the 142nd Kentucky Derby, Nyquist erased all reticence — mediocre speed figures, pedigree questions about whether he’s made for longer races, the vast shadow of Pharoah — by doing what he always does. He won. He won with amazing flair and versatility. He won with ease, it seemed.

Jockey Mario Gutierrez, who has raced previously in Vancouver, kept Nyquist patient during a frantic start in the 20-horse field. Nyquist, which still hasn’t been passed by a horse in eight races, took over in the final stretch and held off hard-charging Exaggerator by just over one length to finish 1¼ miles in 2:01.31.

“He’s just a remarkable athlete,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “You put him in company and he’s just a Ferrari.”

O’Neill joked he was surprised Gutierrez was able to stay on Nyquist because he moves with such speed and power. He has gone wire to wire several times in his eight triumphs. He has run wide, stayed off the pace and finished with vigour. He has stalked.

What can’t he do? Well, lose. So, yeah, he’s a Triple Crown threat.

American Pharoah captivated horse racing by breaking a 37-year Triple Crown drought last year. The reverence of Pharoah caused many to wonder whether Nyquist was truly a special horse.

But now, after watching Nyquist’s smooth performance on the sport’s biggest stage, the anticipation of back-to-back Triple Crown winners will begin.

It’s the second Derby win for O’Neill and Canadian owner J. Paul Reddam of Windsor, Ont., who named the horse after Detroit Red Wings player Gustav Nyquist.

The Stanley Cup made its way to Nyquist’s barn Friday. It should have been taken as an omen.

“He’s just a special horse,” O’Neill said. “He’s definitely the best horse I’ve ever been around. He’s never tired. It doesn’t seem like we’ve ever gotten to the bottom of him.”

This five-week stretch will determine whether Nyquist’s talent is as bottomless as it seems. He heads to Pimlico for the Preakness on May 21. If he’s successful there, he will go to Belmont for a June 11 race that again would elevate the sport from niche status to true international intrigue.

Nyquist is far from an overnight success, but in this sport, the Kentucky Derby carries incredible validating powers. Nyquist goes to the Preakness as the eighth unbeaten Derby winner in history. He arrived here wrapped in pessimism and left adorned in roses.

Nyquist has now cemented himself as a must-see attraction this spring. He was the fastest Derby winner since Funny Cide in 2003.

And despite past trepidation, horse racing has another star to fascinate an audience still basking in the glow of American Pharoah.