Scalding took command in the stretch and easily held off the late-closing Dynamic One to win the G3 Ben Ali Stakes by one-and-a-quarter lengths at Keeneland on Saturday, 23 April.
The four-year-old son of Nyquist has now won four straight, the last two coming in Graded Stakes. Scalding entered the Ben Ali off a win in the G3 Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in March.
Despite hopping at the start, Scalding was quickly into stride while being settled behind the early leaders, Mighty Heart and Cowboy Diplomacy. Scalding continued to track that pair down the backstretch and into the far turn while racing three-wide throughout. Castellano then asked his mount for a bit more and Scalding responded, taking the lead in the stretch and drawing off through the lane. Scalding easily held off a late bid from Dynamic One to earn the victory.
Scalding was bred in Kentucky by Godolphin and Cobalt Investments and is out of the unraced Medaglia d’Oro mare, Hot Water. In addition to Scalding, Hot Water has produced Stakes winner and Graded Stakes-placed Tracksmith (by Street Sense) and Stakes-placed Tortuga. Second dam Elusive Heat (by Elusive Quality) is a Stakes-winning daughter of Champion Xtra Heat.
The leading first crop sire of 2020, Nyquist is off to a hot start in 2022. In addition to Scalding, Nyquist is represented by full-brothers Slow Down Andy (G3 Sunland Park Derby) and Team Merchants (Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes), and the filly Turnerloose, winner of the G2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes and a major contender for the G1 Kentucky Oaks.
Nyquist is standing the 2022 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $55,000, stands and nurses.
