First Grade One Winner for Uncle Mo

Bought for $400,000 at the Fasig-Tipton March 2YO Sale earlier this year, exciting colt Nyquist (2c Uncle Mo x Seeking Gabrielle, by Forestry) kept his unbeaten record intact when taking out the Group I Del Mar Futurity, a race won last year by American Pharoah. A last start winner of the Grade II Best Pal Stakes at the same venue, the Doug O’Neill trained colt just keeps raising the bar and was a hot favourite for this seven furlong assignment. He won eased down by three and three-quarter lengths and has now won three from three. “Before the Futurity I was nervous because he (Nyquist) was the odds-on favorite,” said O’Neill. “Only bad things can happen. I'm glad it's over." A $180,000 weanling and then a $230,000 yearling, Nyquist has impressed at every turn in his life so far and can go even further this year. “This is a super horse and, like any great athlete, it’s a matter of staying healthy and, if he stays that way, he’ll do some big things,” O’Neill added. Raced by Reddam Racing, Nyquist is the first winner for well-bred Seeking Gabrielle, a half-sister by Forestry to Grade III winner Seeking the Sky, the dam of Grade I winner Sahara Sky. Currently leading the US First Crop Sires List, Uncle Mo has gotten off to a flying start with his stud career as you would expect of a former Champion 2YO and already has eight winners on the board including Uncle Vinnie (2c Uncle Mo x Arealhotlover, by Untuttable), who was third in the Grade I Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga. His first Australian two year-olds hit the tracks this spring and he is now back in Australia, standing at a fee of $16,500.