A Way too Early Look at the 2016 Kentucky Derby

Image Credit: Jeff Crow / 123RF.com

It's not too early to begin looking at the hopefuls poised to win the 2016 Kentucky Derby race. Fresh off the heels of American Pharoah’s Triple Crown performance in 2015 and overall dominance of the sport, a renewed interest has been piqued in the sports of kings. Here is a peak some of the horses that may be odds on favorites in Lexington this coming May. A recent article on "Horse Racing Nation" discussed the early 2016 Kentucky Derby odds for several 2-year-old thoroughbreds. Below are some of the highest-rated horses from these early prognostications, along with an overview of previous successes these various thoroughbreds have had in their early careers:

     Nyquist

Named after NHL’s Detroit Red Wings F Gustav Nyquist, the two-year colt won each of his five starts in 2015. Nyquist, who is owned by Paul Reddam, owner of 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Wilko and 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Red Rocks, is a 10-1 favorite for next year’s Derby race. Reddam knows something about Derby wins, having been through a two-thirds Triple Crown run with I’ll Have Another, a three-year old who Reddam saw victories in Louisville and at the Preakness before suffering a career ending tendon injury and being scratched from the Belmont Stakes. Nyquist’s impressive showings at Santa Anita, Del Mar and the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Grade 1 race at the Kneeland course in Lexington, KY makes him a horse to watch in 2016.

     Toews On Ice

Another horse to look to stand in the winner’s circle is Toews On Ice, a 3-year old and 30-1 favorite who is being trained by none other than Bob Baffert. Baffert’s magic touch with American Pharoah in last year’s historic run may strike twice as Toews, the winner of the most recent Bob Hope Stakes-G3 race at the Del Mar racetrack and Speakeasy Stakes in Santa Anita, appears to be catching his stride at the right time heading into the May, 2016 date in Louisville.

     Brody’s Cause

Brody’s Cause is a 15:1 favorite to win the 2016 Kentucky Derby. A September yearling from the Albaugh Family Stable, this colt has already posted two first place wins in four starts in 2015. These include an impressive win at the Kneeland $500,000 Claiborne Breeder’s Futurity in October 2015 by a length over the favorite Exaggerator, who currently is the number 2 ranked horse heading into next year’s Derby. Brody’s Cause late season success may serve as a prelude to greater racing success to come as the hype and pressure mounts toward the running of the 2016 Kentucky Derby.

     Mohaymen

Mohaymen is a two-year old colt who has racked up victories in each of his three starts in 2015. Mohaymen was victorious at Belmont Park in the Maiden Special Weight, followed by back-to-back victories at the Aqueduct racetrack in Queens, NY in the Nashua Stakes and Remsen Stakes – Grade 2 races. He is given 15:1 odds to win the Kentucky Derby and his chances look as good as any other potential horse in the field.

     Swipe

Finally, Swipe is a 15:1 odds on favorite to win the 2016 Derby. Swipe, a two-year old colt, is the winner of the Summer Juvenile Championship Stake and has also posted five second place finishes and one third in 7 races in 2015. Swipe is the prodigy of 2004 Travers and Belmont Stakes winner Birdsong; his pedigree may be a strong indicator of great things to come from this horse come race time at the Kentucky Derby.