Slow Down Andy battled with odds-on favorite Messier through the stretch before prevailing in the final strides to win the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity by a length on Saturday, Dec. 11. Nyquist has now sired 11 Graded performers from his first two crops, more than any stallion ever.
The two-year-old Nyquist colt, who races as a homebred for Reddam Racing, has now won two of three career starts and has earned $249,850. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Slow Down Andy entered the Futurity off a runner-up finish in the Golden State Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 5.
Breaking a step slowly in the field of five, Slow Down Andy was settled at the rear of the field early as Olympic Legend and Durante set the early pace. Slow Down Andy launched a three-wide bid on the far turn and was soon joined Messier to fight for the lead. The two foes battled through the stretch, and despite racing a bit greenly, Slow Down Andy began to open a slight lead, eventually crossing the wire a length in front.
Slow Down Andy was bred in Kentucky and is a full brother to Team Merchants, recent winner of the Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar. Both colts are out of Edwina E (by Square Eddie), a full sister to the multiple Stakes-placed pair of Electric Eddie and Rinse and Repeat.
The leading first crop sire of 2020, Nyquist's other Stakes winners include Eclipse Champion two-year-old filly Vequist, winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies; fellow G1 winner Gretzky the Great, Sovereign Award champion two-year-old; Curly Girl, winner of the Lady Fingers Stakes; Lemieux, winner of the Brethren Juvenile Stakes and Turnerloose, winner of the Aristocratic Stakes at Kentucky Downs.
Nyquist will stand the 2022 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $55,000, stands and nurses.
