Reddam Racing’s Nyquist took the lead from Gun Runner in the upper stretch, opened a daylight margin, and had more than enough to hold off Exaggerator by 1 ¼ lengths to win the 142nd running of the $2,391,600 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands before a crowd of 167,227, the second-largest in Derby history.

It was the second victory in the Derby for owner Paul Reddam, trainer Doug O’Neill, and jockey Mario Gutierrez; the trio that got the roses in 2012 with I’ll Have Another.

“It’s unreal,” Gutierrez said. “No words can describe it.”

Added O’Neill, “He’s a special, special horse. You can see it in his eye on a daily basis. He knows how to bring his ‘A’ game. If he was a human athlete, we’d celebrate him as a super star