Kurt Becker called Kentucky Derby wins by Silver Charm (1997) and Real Quiet (1998) in his role as track announcer at Churchill Downs and was an NBCSports Radio analyst for last year’s win by American Pharoah. The Altamont native, whose father, Carl, revitalized the University of Illinois horse farm, will be back on the call Saturday. Staff writer SCOTT RICHEY got Becker’s thoughts on this year’s race:
What makes Nyquist the favorite? Or is he?
Nyquist has done everything that’s been asked of him — seven starts, seven wins, $3 million in earnings — and yet there are still a lot of skeptics.