LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Trainer Doug O’Neill pinpointed a moment that sticks out when he knew victory at the Kentucky Derby was possible.
It turned out to be last September, when Nyquist won the FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
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The race horse was fine. The jockey — Mario Gutierrez — inspired just as much confidence that day. He rode with a loose saddle the entire race. He didn’t complain. He didn’t say a word about it to the media afterward. He just rode Nyquist to a win.