Well-Bred Nyquist Colt Gosger Sits The Trip In Stonestreet Lexington

[Wandering Eyes]

Gosger (Nyquist) had been matching motors in the morning with 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro), and while the latter was a bounce-back runner-up in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes this past Tuesday, the gray colt managed to go one better in Saturday's GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes, swinging into action off the final turn before keeping on nicely to score in his black-type and two-turn debuts.

The homebred bounced alertly from stall five and was content to take up a rail-skimming position behind the leading trio of the comebacking pacesetter Bracket Buster (Vekoma), the well-fancied Praetor (Into Mischief) and a three-wide Hypnus (Into Mischief), who sat handier to the pace with blinkers added for the first time by trainer Ken McPeek.

Traveling strongly into the final quarter mile as Praetor began to pour in the pressure to the pacesetter, Gosger was tipped out into the three-wide line, came after Praetor at the furlong grounds and boxed on–albeit a bit greenly– for the victory. Bracket Buster battled back inside to round out the exacta behind a weakening Praetor. Hypnus was never dangerous in fourth.

Gosger was a well-backed 5-2 on six-furlong debut at Gulfstream Park Dec. 14 and brushed the gate at the start before finishing with interest to be second. Adding Lasix for a mile maiden in Hallandale Feb. 15, the colt attended a good pace, found himself in front a quarter mile from home and inched clear to take it by 1 1/2 lengths.

“We weren't sure if he had enough experience coming here today,” said winning trainer Brendan Walsh. “He could have done with maybe another run or two. We gave him a little time after he broke his maiden. He did a lot of growing, so we just took our time with him. So I think there's a lot of upside to the horse, and I think he's got a lot in front of him.”

As for what's next, the pragmatic Walsh is happy to let things unfold naturally.

“We'll see how he comes out (of this race),” he said. “I won't do anything drastic too quick unless he really warrants it. He's going to be a lovely horse as the year goes on, really, but we're going to stay calm and pick our spots with him and see how we go.”

Pedigree Notes:

Gosger is the 30th stakes winner and 18th graded winner for his sire, who locked up an Eclipse Award with his victory in the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile over this very course and distance. He is the third stakes winner bred on the cross over Tapit, a number that includes current GI Kentucky Oaks hopeful Tenma, and other A.P. Indy-line dams have produced an additional 10 of Nyquist's black-type winners. Gosger is the 130th SW and 64th GSW out of a daughter of Tapit.

The winner's unraced dam, a half-sister to dual Classic winner I'll Have Another (Flower Alley) and MGSW Golden Award (Medaglia d'Oro), is responsible for Harvey's Lil Goil (American Pharoah), who won the GI QE II Challenge Cup over the local turf course in 2020; Archie the Giza (Cairo Prince), third in this track's GIII Ben Ali Stakes in 2024; and to the dam of SW Movin' On Up (Accelerate).

The dam of six winners from as many to the races, Gloria S did not foal in 2023 or 2024 and was due to American Pharoah once again for 2025.

Saturday, Keeneland
STONESTREET LEXINGTON S.-GIII, $400,000, Keeneland, 4-12, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.15, ft.
1–GOSGER, 123, c, 3, by Nyquist
                1st Dam: Gloria S, by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Arch's Gal Edith, by Arch
                3rd Dam: Force Five Gal, by Pleasant Tap
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Harvey
A Clarke Racing Stable LLC (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Irad
Ortiz, Jr. $241,800. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $292,200. *1/2 to
Harvey's Lil Goil (American Pharoah), GISW, $899,172 and
Archie the Giza (Cairo Prince), GSP, $223,051. Werk Nick
Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bracket Buster, 123, c, 3, Vekoma–Spring Dance, by Dance
With Ravens. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($160,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $125,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-BBN
Racing LLC; B-David Baxter (KY); T-Victoria H. Oliver. $78,000.
3–Praetor, 123, c, 3, Into Mischief–Curlin's Approval, by Curlin.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($725,000 Ylg '23
KEESEP). O-William H. Lawrence, CHP Racing and Gainesway
Stable (Antony Beck); B-Bridlewood Farm & Alter's Racing
Stables, Inc. (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $39,000.
Margins: 2, 3HF, HF. Odds: 4.30, 25.44, 1.69.
Also Ran: Hypnus, Bullard, Native Runner, Hard as Life. Scratched: Rolando, Touchy.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

Gosger steps up and takes the G3 Lexington at Keeneland at 4/1 for trainer @brenpwalsh with @iradortiz in the saddle!

Fun fact: Gosger has been workmates with East Avenue!

TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ZFdJyap3lm

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) April 12, 2025

 

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