Scalding scorches rivals in G3 Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs

Four-year-old Nyquist colt finds success in his Graded Stakes debut

Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables and LNJ Foxwoods’ Scalding continued to remain hot in 2022 with a game neck victory in the G3 Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, 12 March.

It was the third straight win for the four-year-old son of Nyquist, who remains undefeated this year. 

Ridden confidently by jockey Javier Castellano, Scalding was settled just off the pace in third, content to track longshots Wolfie’s Dynaghost and Tune In thorough the early stages of the race. Scalding began to close in on the leaders on the far turn, then joined those rivals in a three-way skirmish at the top of the stretch. The trio continued to battle through the stretch, with Scalding finally gaining the advantage late and digging in to win by a neck.

Scalding was bred in Kentucky by Godolphin and Cobalt Investments and is out of the unraced Medaglia d’Oro mare, Hot Water. In addition to Scalding, Hot Water has produced Stakes winner and Graded Stakes-placed Tracksmith (by Street Sense) and Stakes-placed Tortuga. Second dam Elusive Heat (by Elusive Quality) is a Stakes-winning daughter of Champion and G1 winner, Xtra Heat.

The leading first crop sire of 2020, Nyquist's current crop of three-year-olds include the promising Slow Down Andy, winner of the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity last year; Turnerloose, winner of the G2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes; Awake At Midnyte, who has been third in the G2 Rachel Alexandra and second in the G2 Santa Ynez this season and Ignitis, third in the Listed Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Nyquist is standing the 2022 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $55,000, stands and nurses.