Montador took the lead at the top of the stretch and drew off through the lane on his way to earning a four-and-a-quarter length victory in the $100,000 Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday, Dec. 27.
The three-year-old Nyquist colt, who notched his first Stakes win in the Woodchopper, improved his record to 3-2-0 in seven starts, with earnings of $279,309.
A field of seven sophomore colts went to the post in the 8.5-furlong turf contest. Coco Cool broke on top, leading the way through an opening quarter in :23 with a half-mile in :47.58. Montador tracked the leader to his outside from third while his stablemate, Juris Doctor, raced in sixth.
At the top of the stretch the stablemates were on even terms and preparing to bid for the lead. Montador sailed by in the clear while Juris Doctor found repeated trouble trying to split the fading early leaders. He eventually found clear running, but it was much too late as Montador was long gone. Faber finished willingly to win the photo for third.
Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, Montador is out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare, Lady Montdore, winner of the G2 Glens Falls Stakes and third in the G1 Flower Bowl S. Lady Montdore is out of the multiple Graded Stakes winner, Hystericalady (by Distorted Humor), winner of the G1 Humana Distaff, G2 Delaware Handicap, etc.
Champion Nyquist is the sire of ten career G1 winners, four of which were in 2025: Nysos (G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile), Cavalieri (G1 Beholder Mile), Velocity (G1 Del Mar Oaks) and Argos (G1 Summer Stakes).
Nyquist will stand the 2026 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $175,000, stands and nurses.
