Nyquist Steadily Climbing Sire Rankings

Whether the son of a highly successful stallion will eventually match the prowess of his sire is difficult to predict. 

With that in mind, consider the case of Nyquist , who is the biggest mover in the latest edition of The List. He climbed four spaces from No. 22 to No. 18. Nyquist's 2024 is showing a lot of promise for a best-ever finish this year, thanks to several of his older runners. 

The ladder climb was powered by Johannes turning heads in his grade 1 debut with a half-length score in the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile Stakes May 27 at Santa Anita Park. The top-level score followed Johannes' 2024 debut, a clear victory in the American Stakes (G3T) in early April at Santa Anita. Out of the winning Congrats mare Cuyathy, Johannes is campaigned by his breeder Cuyathy LLC (Joe and Debby McCloskey).

Also this past week for Nyquist, Xigera, a 4-year-old filly, finished second in the $275,000 Shawnee Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Earlier this year Flying Connection earned grade 1 placings in both the Apple Blossom Stakes (G1) and the Derby City Distaff (G1).

Top 3-year-olds to date this season for Nyquist include Lexington Stakes (G3) winner Encino and Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) winner Nysos, who is undefeated in three career starts. 

By Uncle Mo, who consistently finishes among the leading sires in North America and currently ranks 11th by 2024 progeny earnings, Nyquist had a fantastic career on the track. He was champion 2-year-old male in 2015 on the heels of winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Then in 2016, he won the Kentucky Derby (G1), the last of his eight career wins. 

Nyquist retired with an 8-0-1 mark from 11 starts and $5,189,200 in earnings, which to date exceeds the total purses for Uncle Mo's next-highest earner by more than $3.3 million. 

Entering stud at Darley Stallions at Jonabell Farm in Lexington in 2017, where he currently stands for $85,000, Nyquist got off to a great start. He was the leading first-crop sire in 2020 and 82nd overall that year thanks to his daughter Vequist. She won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and was voted champion 2-year-old filly. After five races with four finishes in the top two, she was retired. She reportedly gave birth to a foal by Into Mischief  earlier this year.

Nyquist's next-best runner has been Randomized, who last year fell just short of $1 million in earnings ($930,750) with wins in the Alabama (G1) and Beldame (G2) stakes to go along with a second in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Randomized was second this year in the Ruffian Stakes (G2).

In terms of rankings, he's finished second as a second-, third-, and fourth-crop sire, trailing Not This Time  in each of those years. Nyquist ranks second among fifth-crop sires this year. 

His place on the general leading sires list has been one of steady improvement each year. After debuting at No. 82, he subsequently finished at Nos. 54, 29, and 22. 

Elsewhere in the rankings, there was very little movement, especially near the top as nine of the top 12 held their places from two weeks ago. With a loaded card at Saratoga Race Course for Belmont Stakes (G1) weekend, things figure to not be so calm in another two weeks.