California star Nyquist remained unbeaten after he took on his biggest challenge to easily win the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park to confirm his credentials for next month’s Kentucky Derby.

Nyquist and the previously unbeaten Mohaymen hooked up for a moment at the head of the stretch but the expected duel never materialized as Nyquist drew away for a commanding 3.25 lengths win.

Owner J. Paul Reddam's gamble was richly rewarded when his front-running son of Uncle Mo ran away to beat Majesto and Fellowship while Mohaymen, sent off an odds on favourite, struggled to finish fourth.

The winner banked $600,000 prizemoney plus a $1 million bonus offered to any graduate of the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale to win the Florida Derby.

The windfall boosted the lifetime earnings of last year’s 2YO champion to $3,333,600. Reddam had purchased the colt for $400,000 as a Fasig Tipton 2YO in training.

Breeders Cup Juvenile winner Nyquist is now a perfect seven wins from seven starts for trainer Doug O’Neill with his second win this season coming after he resumed with a victory in the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita in February.

He easily coped with his first try at 1 1/8 miles and will now ship to Keeneland to begin his final preparations for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7.

"He's got the mindset of a champion," O'Neill said. "Now, it's up to the whole crew and the racing gods to keep him injury free.

“I feel today was a step forward for the challenge of getting a mile and a quarter against a huge field.”

O'Neill teamed with Nyquist’s jockey Martio Gutierrez and Reddam to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2012 with I'll Have Another. Their hopes for a Triple Crown sweep were dashed when I'll Have Another was scratched on the eve of the Belmont Stakes with a career-ending injury.

Reddam and O’Neil were praised for his willingness to leave the West Coast to tackle Mohaymen on his home course.

“You can't be afraid," Reddam said. "If you are afraid in this business, you are not going anywhere."

Nyquist must overcome history and the so-called Juvenile Jinx to win the Kentucky Derby.

Street Sense, the 2007 Kentucky Derby winner, is the only BC Juvenile champion to prevail in the opening leg of the Triple Crown. The BC Juvenile was first run in 1984.

Mohaymen, Shadwell Stable's $2.2 million yearling purchase, boasted a 5-for-5 record that included rousing victories in two previous starts for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin this year, both at Gulfstream.