Kentucky Derby 2016: Nyquist back on top as betting favorite for Run for the Roses

The undefeated Nyquist returned to his familiar position as the early betting favorite for the 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) after his win in the Florida Derby (G1) on April 2.

With just one major Derby prep left to be decided, he is certainly going to be garnering most of the attention in the wagering on the first Saturday of May at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

The Doug O'Neill trainee had a perfect juvenile campaign in 2015, capping it off with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), making him the betting favorite for the Run for the Roses. The only colt to win both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby was Street Sense in 2007.

However, while Nyquist was on the sidelines awaiting his three-year-old debut, Mohaymen took over the role as the early betting favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

The colt also had a perfect juvenile campaign including victories in the Nashua (G2) and Remsen (G2). He then won his 3-year-old debut on Jan. 30, taking the Holy Bull (G2) and taking over as early betting favorite for the Kentucky Derby at 9-2 while Nyquist drifted up to 10-1.

Mohaymen then won the Fountain of Youth (G2) on Feb. 27, and his price dropped farther to 7-2 and it looked as if he was sailing to Louisville.

However, Mohaymen's last prep was to come in the Florida Derby (G1) on April 2, and Nyquist, as a sales grad of the Fasig Tipton Florida sale, was eligible for a $1 million bonus for winning the Florida Derby.

Nyquist did not make his 3-year-old debut until he won the seven-furlong San Vicente (G3) on Feb. 15 and the next logical step was the Santa Anita Derby (G1). But his connections decided the $1 million bonus and the five-week break between the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby was too perfect to pass up.

The top two contenders for the Run for the Roses would meet in their final prep for the first time in decades.

Both came into the race undefeated and Mohaymen was sent off as the 4-5 favorite while Nyquist was the second choice at 6-5. Something had to give, and it turned out it was Mohaymen, who faded to finish fourth while Nyquist took the field gate to wire.

Two days before the Florida Derby Mohaymen was listed at 7-2 and Nyquist was listed at 8-1 by oddsmakers at a Kentucky Derby betting site. Soon after Nyquist crossed the wire 3 ¼ lengths we had a new betting favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

Nyquist is now at +300 while Mohaymen has drifted up to +800 on the Kentucky Derby odds. O'Neill seems to be making all the right calls with Nyquist, and he has been down the Triple Crown road in the past. I'll Have Another won the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness (G1) and looked poised for history only to have an injury knock the colt out of the Belmont Stakes (G1).

Despite winning the Santa Anita Derby, I'll Have Another was sent off at 15-1 in the Kentucky Derby. Nyquist certainly will be a much shorter price on the first Saturday of May.