Nicholai (USA) Horse
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About
Nicholai is a 4yo bay horse bred in the United States and trained by Thomas D. Vance. He is by Goldencents out of the mare Cora And Jas. So far, Nicholai has recorded three wins. His biggest victory arrived on 7 February 2026 at Oaklawn Park, where he captured Race 3 and pocketed $126,000. The runner has been a money‑maker for bettors; a bettor who backed him throughout his career would have realized a 39% return on investment.
Race Record
| Event Summary | Runner Stats | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Oaklawn Park 02-Mar-26 1207m R2 Race 2 (of $125,000) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 01:09.740, SP: 4.50 bumped with an inner foe at the start, showed the way from just off the rail, was ridden into the far turn, but faded in the two path down the stretch. 1st Sharp Swinger ( I O Jr 118 ) 2nd Map To The Stars ( F Arrieta 118 ) 0.50L 3rd Northern Chill ( J L Ortiz 118 ) 1.75L 8th Nicholai ( W D L Cruz 119 ) 6.55L See full results | W D L Cruz 54kg 6.55L | 8 (10) |
| Oaklawn Park 07-Feb-26 1207m R3 Race 3 $79,380 (of $126,000) Barrier 3, Winning Time: 01:11.770, SP: 5.00 away in GOOD order, set the pace up the backstretch along the inside, dueled through the turn while closest to the inside, disposed of that rival when straightened for home, clear while drifting out a bit past the furlong marker, enough left late to last. 1st Nicholai ( W D L Cruz 124 ) 2nd Touchdown Arkansas ( F Arrieta 120 ) 0.30L 3rd Al's Romeo ( J Castellano 120 ) 1.75L See full results | W D L Cruz 56.2kg | 1 (10) |
| Oaklawn Park 04-Jan-26 1207m R7 Race 7 $72,450 (of $115,000) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 01:11.050, SP: 1.80 away well, dueled up front in the three path outside, disposed of the other speed turning into the lane to be clear, maintained daylight to the finish under steady handling. 1st Nicholai ( W D L Cruz 119 ) 2nd Zippy Mark ( E Esquivel 119 ) 2.75L 3rd Rock Solo ( L Saez 119 ) 2.50L See full results | W D L Cruz 54kg | 1 (12) |
| Oaklawn Park 14-Dec-25 1210m R10 Race 10 $23,000 (of $115,000) Barrier 2, Winning Time: 01:10.680, SP: 21.00 pressed the issue throughout from along the inside, challenged the winner from along the inside in the final strides, not enough. 1st Mischievous M ( T Bacon 119 ) 2nd Nicholai ( W D L Cruz 112 ) 0.25L 3rd Dual Monarchy ( K Harr 124 ) 0.50L See full results | W D L Cruz 50.8kg 0.25L | 2 (12) |
| Churchill Downs 31-Oct-25 1210m R7 Race 7 $1,094 (of $127,000) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 01:11.560, SP: 17.00 broke forwardly, but steadied while faltering between horses down the backstretch, raced well back in the three to four path before drifting out to the nine path into upper stretch, but failed to factor. 1st Jack's Promise ( V Cheminaud 118 ) 2nd Northern Chill ( T Gaffalione 121 ) 1.75L 3rd Dreaminblue ( L Machado 118 ) 1.25L 7th Nicholai ( C Lanerie 118 ) 7.25L See full results | C Lanerie 53.5kg 7.25L | 7 (10) |
| Churchill Downs 26-May-25 1210m FIRM R8 Race 8 $1,215 (of $127,000) Barrier 2, Winning Time: 01:09.350, SP: 13.00 bumped a foe at the break, rushed up to duel for the lead two wide and then took a bad step nearing the three eighths marker and took up and was eased, walked off. 1st Furio ( J Ortiz 118 ) 2nd Amor Patriae ( E Morales 118 ) 0.15L 3rd U Devil You ( L Saez 118 ) 2.50L 11th Nicholai ( C Torres 120 ) 87.05L See full results | C Torres 54.4kg 87kgL | 11 (11) |
| Oaklawn Park 20-Apr-25 1210m FIRM R12 Race 12 $9,100 (of $130,000) Barrier 9, Winning Time: 01:10.460, SP: 13.00 pressed the issue early outside, three path into lane when putting a head in front, briefly clear with a furlong to run, faltered in the late going. 1st Al's Romeo ( A Pusac 122 ) 2nd Strike Ridge ( T Bacon 125 ) 1.75L 3rd Strato ( K Asmussen 122 ) 1.75L 4th Nicholai ( W D L Cruz 120 ) 4.50L See full results | W D L Cruz 54.4kg 4.50L | 4 (11) |
| Oaklawn Park 30-Mar-25 1210m FIRM R5 Md $69,300 (of $110,000) Barrier 8, Winning Time: 01:11.040, SP: 4.33 away in good order, narrowly showed the way while between horses, floated the runner up out while in the three path turning for home, shook clear when held that same rival safe late. 1st Nicholai ( W D L Cruz 120 ) 2nd Personal Jet ( J R Leparoux 120 ) 0.25L 3rd God's Country ( A Pusac 125 ) 4.00L See full results | W D L Cruz 54.4kg | 1 (10) |