Reasons Not to Bet the Favorite Nyquist to Win the 2016 Kentucky Derby

Everybody is on Nyquist to win this year’s Kentucky Derby…..Well…maybe not everyone.

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Some pundits have come forward expressing rationale for not picking Nyquist, especially at relatively short 3-1 odds.  Forget that he’s yet to lose a race.

Neil Greenburg of the Washington Post worried about the pedigree:

In terms of pedigree, six of the last seven Derby winners had either Raise a Native or Bold Ruler in their direct sire line. Nyquist, whose sire is Uncle Mo, a descendant of Nasrullah, doesn’t appear to have enough stamina to be competitive for the full 10 furlongs. The last time Nasrullah was found in the sire line of a Derby winner was 1988 (Winning Colors). You have to go back to 1968 (Forward Pass) to find the only other Derby winner Nasrullah produced.

Speed may also be an issue.  Some say Nyquist isn’t quite suited for the Kentucky Derby.  Nyquist has had his best performances in races with one turn.

Trainer Doug O’Neill is prepared to prove the skeptics wrong.

“Earlier on, he was picked on because, oh, his Beyer [speed figures] are so low. And I’m like, ‘Wait a minute. I thought the object was to beat whoever you’re running against.’ . . . The knock on the horse is now, ‘Well, we don’t think he’ll go 1¼ miles.’ Of course, no one can discern that from watching him.”

Scroll down for the 2016 Kentucky Derby betting odds

- Mary Montgomery, Gambling911.com