Kentucky Derby favorite Nyquist will drink from Stanley Cup before race
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Nyquist is a 3-to-1 favorite to take the 2016 Kentucky Derby on Saturday and he will be getting a little championship boost before he steps into the starting gate.
The horse, who is named after Red Wings’ forward Gustav Nyquist, will sip from the Stanley Cup while in the paddocks at Churchill Downs, according to Reuters.
"How cool is that?" Nyquist trainer Doug O'Neill told the Los Angeles Times. "The human Nyquist won't get to skate around with the Cup this year, but the equine Nyquist gets two white-gloved guards bringing him the Cup to drink from. Life is good."
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Nyquist is owned by J. Paul Reddam, a lifelong Red Wings fan from Windsor, Ontario, who named the horse after a Detroit player as a friendly jab at Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson, who has partnered with Reddam on some horses in the past.
– Brendan Maloy
