Gretzky the Great

Gretzky the Great, a Nyquist colt owned by Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, finished second in his debut on July 12, 2020, going five furlongs on Woodbine’s turf course. He broke his maiden in his next start on Aug. 2 in a six-furlong race that was moved to Woodbine’s main track, and then graduated to stakes winner three weeks after that, taking the Aug. 23 Soaring Free Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on Woodbine’s turf by a neck over Ready to Repeat.

Trainer Mark Casse then started Gretzky the Great in the one-mile Grade 1 Summer Stakes on Sept. 20, and the colt defeated Ready to Repeat again, this time by 3 ¼ lengths. He survived a steward’s inquiry after drifting to the rail in deep stretch and stalling the runner-up’s momentum to improve to 3-for-4 in his career. Gretzky the Great earned an automatic bid to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with the victory.

Gretzky the Great stalked the early pace in the Juvenile Turf but faded late and finished sixth in his final start as a 2-year-old.

Making his 3-year-old debut and trying his luck on the Kentucky Derby trail Feb. 26 in the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park, Gretzky the Great finished third, beaten by 1 ¾ lengths by winner Hush of the Storm.

Gretzky the Great is the first winner out of the stakes-placed and winning Bernardini mare Pearl Turn. Grade 2-winning sprinter Saint Anddan is a notable relative.