Kentucky Derby 2016 Winner: Analysis and Race Highlights from Nyquist's Victory

Nyquist appeared to have many options open to him as he came into the Kentucky Derby as the race favorite.

He had shown he could come from behind and win, and he had also demonstrated that he could go to the front, take the lead and keep it.

However, in a race like the Derby with 19 other competitors, the best way for the versatile Nyquist to run his race was to get close to the lead fairly early so he could avoid traffic and then make his move at the critical point when he could whip the field.

Nyquist, who was undefeated in seven races going into the Run for the Roses, accomplished Plan A and won the 142nd Kentucky Derby Saturday.

It was not an easy victory, even though it may appear that way when we examine his run down the stretch. He made a bold move and simply took command before the onrushing Exaggerator made some inroads in the deep stretch.

Nevertheless, Nyquist won the race by 1 ¼ lengths. He went to the post as the 2-1 favorite and paid $6.60, $4.80 and $3.60 to his backers.

Jockey Mario Gutierrez did an expert job of piloting Nyquist, as he broke the horse quickly from the No. 13 post and rushed him up to the front. That allowed Nyquist to avoid the traffic that often keeps many Derby horses from making their best run.

Once Gutierrez got Nyquist near the top, he looked over to his right and saw speed horse Danzing Candy go past him and take the lead. That was ideal for Nyquist, who settled into the pocket and ran comfortably down the back stretch. 

Gutierrez was thrilled with the way the first part of the race worked out, because that allowed Nyquist to run just the way he wanted once he got to the far turn and the stretch.

"We got a beautiful trip from the start to the end," Gutierrez said, per ESPN.com.

There were questions about Nyquist's ability to handle the distance of the 1 ¼-mile race, but he had enough explosiveness, power and stamina to hold off Exaggerator.

Finish	Horse	Post	Lengths Behind
1	Nyquist	13	--
2	Exaggerator	11	1 1/4
3	Gun Runner	5	4 1/2
4	Mohaymen	14	4 1/2
5	Suddenbreakingnews	2	4 1/2
6	Destin	9	6 3/4
7	Brody's Cause	19	9 1/4
8	Mo Tom	4	10
9	Lani	8	10 1/2
10	Mor Spirit	17	14 1/4
11	My Man Sam	6	14 1/4
12	Tom's Ready	12	16 3/4
13	Creator	3	18
14	Outwork	15	18 1/4
15	Danzing Candy	20	19 3/4
16	Trojan Nation	1	27 1/2
17	Oscar Nominated	7	33 1/4
18	Majesto	18	37 1/2
19	Whitmore	10	38
20	Shagaf	16	DNF

Trainer Doug O'Neill prepared his colt well to handle the distance in the race, and he was thrilled with what he saw at Churchill Downs.

"This is such a special horse," O'Neill said of Nyquist, per ESPN.com. "You can see it in his eye on a daily basis, and he's such a professional. Any human sport, he'd be the top-notch athlete. He's just first-class.''

Once Nyquist got to the top of the stretch, he was in an excellent position and so was Gun Runner. Both horses passed Danzing Candy, and while Gun Runner got the lead briefly, Nyquist found another gear and ran by that horse to a clear lead.

That stretch run was the winning move, but his ability to get close to the front early set him up for his championship run.

After winning the Kentucky Derby, thoughts will turn to the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore May 21.

There was nothing in Nyquist's winning run Saturday that should give his handlers any reason to believe he won't make it 9-of-9 in the second Triple Crown race of the year.

It may be too early to consider Nyquist a legitimate Triple Crown winner, but if he can win one more race, that will be the dominant story in the weeks prior to the Belmont Stakes.