Gosger charged to the lead entering the homestretch and drew off to a two-length victory in the G3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday, 12 April.
The one and one-sixteenth mile contest was the first Graded Stakes win for the promising Nyquist colt, who has now won two of three career starts.
Gosger bumped slightly with Native Runner coming out of the starting gate and was content to settle just behind the leading trio of Bracket Buster, Praetor, and Hypnus through the early stages of the race. Gosger continued to save ground along the rail down the backstretch, then was tipped out three-wide at the top of the stretch for a clear run at the leaders.
Under a full head of steam with just under a furlong to go, Gosger rolled past the longtime leaders and pulled away, crossing the wire a comfortable winner. Bracket Buster was a clear second, three-and-a-half lengths ahead of a tiring Praetor. Hypnus came in fourth.
Bred in Kentucky by his owner, Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stable LLC, Gosger is out of the unraced mare, Gloria S (by Tapit), and is a half brother to Harvey’s Lil Goil (American Pharoah), winner of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland in 2020. He is also a half brother to Archie the Giza (Cairo Prince), third in Keeneland’s G3 Ben Ali Stakes, and to the mare Stifle Yourself (Cairo Prince), dam of Stakes winner, Movin' On Up (Accelerate). Gosger’s dam, Gloria S, is a half sister to dual Classic winner and Champion I’ll Have Another and to multiple Graded Stakes winner, Golden Award (Medaglia d’Oro).
Gosger is the 30th Stakes winner and 18th Graded Stakes winner for his sire, Nyquist, who was represented by two Graded Stakes winners last weekend – Verity, winner of the G2 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland and Tenma, winner of the G2 Santa Anita Oaks. Nyquist is also the sire of Cavalieri, a two-time Graded Stakes winner so far this year (G1 Beholder Mile and G3 La Canada). Not to be forgotten is Immersive, the undefeated Eclipse Award-winning Champion juvenile filly of 2024, who has yet to debut this season.
Nyquist is standing the 2025 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $175,000, stands and nurses.
