Horse Racing: Breaking Stories and all the Latest from Yahoo Sports

Derby winner Nyquist heads to Preakness; new rivals await (The Associated Press)

Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist heads to Baltimore on Monday to prepare for the Preakness, where the undefeated colt could face up to 13 rivals including nine new shooters seeking to derail his Triple Crown bid. Nyquist had been walked, bathed and returned to his stall at Churchill Downs by 6 a.m. Sunday, less than 12 hours after he won the Derby by 1 1/4 lengths and improved his record to 8-0. Trainer Doug O’Neill had already gone back to Southern California for a few days before returning east to rejoin his bay colt at Pimlico.

 

Kentucky Derby trainer Romans hurt in post-race car accident (The Associated Press)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Derby trainer Dale Romans says he’s resting at home with some bruised ribs after being involved in a car accident after Saturday’s race.

Hey American Pharoah, here comes Nyquist (Yahoo Sports)

After running a near perfect Kentucky Derby, Nyquist is ready to make a run at the Triple Crown.

 

Nyquist stays undefeated with Kentucky Derby victory (The Associated Press)

The racing world wondered if there was a worthy successor to last year’s Triple Crown champion American Pharoah. Enter Nyquist. The bay colt who lacks any distinctive markings won the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/4 lengths on Saturday, improving to 8-0 in his career as the fourth consecutive favorite to win the race.

 

No more Triple talk for Baffert, Espinoza after 2016 Derby (The Associated Press)

The American Pharoah hangover is over for Bob Baffert, Victor Espinoza and Ahmed Zayat – and maybe everyone else. With Nyquist winning the Kentucky Derby on Saturday and heading to the Preakness in two weeks with an unbeaten record, Triple Crown chatter now turns to racing’s newest star.

 

Jockey Mario Gutierrez is now 2 for 2 in the Kentucky Derby (The Associated Press)

Mario Gutierrez is perfect in two Kentucky Derby rides. Four years after riding I’ll Have Another to victory in the Run For The Roses, Gutierrez earned another Derby triumph by riding favorite Nyquist to a 1 1/4-length victory. Gutierrez’s next step is winning a second Preakness in only his second try, two weeks from now in Baltimore.

 

Excitable Lani settles down to run 9th in Kentucky Derby (The Associated Press)

Preparing Lani for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby was the easy part. Known for digging in his hooves – and kicking – when he doesn’t want to do something, the Japan-based gray colt frequently showed his mule side while being led from his barn to the paddock and starting gate at Churchill Downs. Lani stubbornly fought his handlers and kicked the paddock stall, and for a minute seemed headed toward being scratched.

 

Nyquist always has something in reserve: jockey (Reuters)
(Reuters) – Nyquist had something in reserve on his way to claiming the Kentucky Derby, jockey Mario Gutierrez said after riding the colt to victory at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Nyquist, named after the Detroit Red Wings’ Swedish ice hockey player Gustav Nyquist, built a big lead halfway down the home straight, but gave his backers some nervous moments when the fast-finishing Exaggerator closed in over the final furlong.

Stays in Vegas wins Senorita Stakes by a head at Santa Anita (The Associated Press)
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Stays in Vegas edged Be Mine by a head to win the $100,000 Senorita Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Anchor Downs takes Belmont’s Westchester Stakes (The Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — Anchor Down splashed his way to a 6 3/4-length victory Saturday in the $150,000 Westchester Stakes at Belmont Park.

Dante wins Dexter Cup for 3-year-old trotters (The Associated Press)
FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) — Dante took the lead at the start in 1 3/4-length victory Saturday in the $140,800 Dexter Cup at Freehold Raceway.

PHOTO GALLERY: Hats off to Kentucky Derby fashion (The Associated Press)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — If it’s Derby day, it’s dress up day.

 

Trainer Jorge Navarro springs 2 upsets on Derby undercard (The Associated Press)
Trainer Jorge Navarro was the king of upsets Saturday on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Three races later, Navarro was back in the winner’s circle after Sharp Azteca took the $250,000 Pat Day Mile for 3-year-olds at 13-1. Navarro was stunned by the price on Sharp Azteca.

CP NewsAlert: Canadian-owned Nyquist captures Kentucky Derby to remain undefeated (The Canadian Press)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Canadian-owned Nyquist has captured the Kentucky Derby to remain undefeated.

American Pharoah has special place in Derby fans’ hearts (The Associated Press)

American Pharoah’s journey to racing history a year ago spurred Richie Columbus to make his first trip to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Until Pharoah, horse racing typically drew his attention just once a year, when Columbus watched the Derby on TV. ”It pretty much brought us here today,” he said while heading to the Churchill Downs infield.

 

Stanley Cup shows up at Derby favorite’s Nyquist barn (The Associated Press)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Nothing like the Stanley Cup showing up on the backstretch at Churchill Downs the morning of the Kentucky Derby.

 

The Latest: Derby day weather an iffy proposition (The Associated Press)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Latest from the 142th running of the Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs. Post time for the race is 6:34 p.m. ET. (all times local):

 

A year after American Pharoah, U.S. horse racing faces uneasy future (Reuters)

A year after American Pharoah became the first horse since 1978 to win the Triple Crown, U.S. thoroughbred racing officials have struggled to build on that excitement or agree on whether the sport needs a commissioner to rein in its disparate players. Saturday’s running of the 142nd Kentucky Derby, the most famous race in America and the first in the Triple Crown series of three races, puts horse racing at the center of attention for many sports fans, a place it only rarely occupies. In a sport in which a star horse captures headlines like American Pharoah but then retires the next year to make the real money in breeding, arguments are playing out over whether a commissioner is needed, or perhaps a group of leaders.

 

DERBY 2016: Some dramatic finishes in the Run for the Roses (The Associated Press)

Picking the most dramatic finishes in the Kentucky Derby is all but impossible. From breathtaking duels to the wire (Grindstone-Cavonnier) to almost unthinkable upsets (Mine That Bird at 50-1) to completely overpowering victories (Barbaro by 6 1/2 lengths), there’s good reason the Derby is often called the greatest two minutes in sports. For many, though, it’s all about how the race unfolds once these 3-year-olds come hauling around the turn and into the stretch under the twin spires at Churchill Downs with 170,000 racing fans roaring at the top of their lungs.

 

Home Run Kitten wins American Stakes at Santa Anita (The Associated Press)

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Home Run Kitten won the $100,000 American Stakes by a half-length Friday after the race was moved from turf to dirt because of heavy rain at Santa Anita.

 

Kentucky Derby, where revenue flows like aged Bourbon (Reuters)
Since its first running in 1875, the Kentucky Derby has remained one of those tribal, celebratory events that bring our ever-fragmented viewing populace together. The Kentucky Derby is our equine Miss America pageant, the first Saturday in May devoted to the Sport of Kings and the beautiful people who attend the annual behatted, bespoke gala at the famed Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. While the odds are long that we’ll see another Triple Crown winner this year, Churchill Downs, broadcast partners led by NBC, and the thoroughbred racing industry still have ample reason to celebrate ahead of the 142nd Run for the Roses.

Kentucky Derby by the numbers (Reuters)
(Reuters) – The Kentucky Derby is the oldest, continuously held major sporting event in the United States, happening every year since 1875 at Churchill Downs in Louisville. When the 142nd Kentucky Derby is run Saturday, it will showcase top three-year-old thoroughbreds, as well as the traditions that are part of the race’s pageantry. Here’s a breakdown of “the fastest two minutes in sports” according to Kentucky Derby representatives: – – Horses have one chance to win the Kentucky Derby In horseracing, a “derby” is a race for horses who are three-years-old, meaning they only can compete in the event once in their lives.

Nyquist not the buzziest of favorites for Kentucky Derby (The Associated Press)

Go ahead and pity Kentucky Derby favorite Nyquist. Heck, even his owner J. Paul Reddam said that as a fan he’d bet against his horse. Handicappers and racing fans haven’t been talking up the bay colt named for Detroit Red Wings player Gustav Nyquist (Reddam is a fan) either.

 

King Kranz rules the slop, wins Belmont’s Gold Fever Stakes (The Associated Press)
King Kranz made a strong inside move in the slop to win the $100,000 Gold Fever Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters on Friday at Belmont Park. ”The horse ran a very good race,” winning jockey Kendrick Carmouche said. It was the second straight strong effort on a wet track for King Kranz.

Cathryn Sophia wins Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs (The Associated Press)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Cathryn Sophia took charge entering the stretch and rolled to victory Friday in the 142nd Kentucky Oaks Friday at Churchill Downs.

 

Nyquist trainer O’Neill eyes second Derby win (Reuters)

By Mark Lamport-Stokes (Reuters) – Four years after celebrating his first Kentucky Derby triumph, trainer Doug O’Neill is in prime position to toast another after his bay colt Nyquist was installed as the pre-race favorite for Saturday’s 142nd edition. In 2012, Mario Gutierrez piloted the O’Neill-trained I’ll Have Another to Derby glory and the same jockey will be back in the saddle on Saturday when the unbeaten Nyquist breaks from the 13th post in a 20-runner field at Churchill Downs. “It has allowed me to not be overwhelmed this time,” O’Neill said about the benefit of previous success at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

 

Jockey Mario Gutierrez never stopped believing he’d return to Kentucky Derby (The Canadian Press)
Four years ago, a 25-year-old Gutierrez guided I’ll Have Another to victory in the Derby and Preakness before a tendon injury prevented the horse from trying to complete American racing’s Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes. Following that bitter disappointment, Gutierrez returned to Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse — where he was the top rider in 2007-08 — but struggled to find the winner’s circle, prompting suggestions he simply got lucky with I’ll Have Another. Gutierrez returns to Churchill Downs on Saturday aboard Nyquist, the Canadian-owned 3-1 early Derby favourite.