Keeneland Sales Graduate Nyquist Leads Experimental Free Handicap

LEXINGTON, KY (Jan. 29, 2016) – Keeneland sales graduate and undefeated champion 2-year-old male Nyquist is the 126-pound highweight on The Jockey Club’s 2015 Experimental Free Handicap, announced today.

Keeneland sale graduates are among the top-weighted juveniles in the male and female divisions of the Experimental, a weight-based assessment of the previous year’s leading 2-year-olds in the U.S. and Canada with weights compiled for a hypothetical race at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. The Experimental has been published annually since 1935.

Nyquist recorded the fifth win of his 2-year-old campaign when he captured the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships last October at Keeneland.

The Uncle Mo colt is a graduate of two Keeneland auctions. In 2013, Paramount Sales, agent, consigned him as a weanling to the November Breeding Stock Sale, where he was purchased by Madison Farm for $180,000. At the 2014 September Sale, consignor Dromoland Farm, agent, sold Nyquist to Sutton Place Stables for $230,000.

Other top-weighted males who are fellow graduates of the 2014 September Sale are Swipe, runner-up to Nyquist in four graded stakes, assigned 124 pounds; Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner Brody’s Cause (121 pounds); and Champagne (G1) winner Greenpointcrusader (120 pounds). Sharing 119 pounds are Saratoga Special (G2) and Delta Downs Jackpot (G3) winner Exaggerator and Nashua (G2) and Remsen (G2) winner Mohaymen. All five horses were sold at the 2014 September Sale.

Among fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap, September Sale graduate Catch a Glimpse, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and Natalma (G2), was assigned second high weight of 120 pounds. Windways Farm purchased the daughter of City Zip for $75,000 from the consignment of Warrendale Sales, agent, at the 2014 September Sale.

Additional Keeneland sales graduates who are top-weighted fillies include Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf third-place finisher and Frizette (G1) runner-up Nemoralia and Frizette winner Nickname, both at 118 pounds. Sharing 117 pounds are Golden Rod (G2) winner Carina Mia, Demoiselle (G2) winner Lewis Bay and Starlet (G1) winner Street Fancy.

All Experimental Free Handicap weight assignments, as well as past performances for those horses, are available here.

Source: Keeneland