O'Neill BC Runners Working Steadily in SoCal

On a drizzly Southern California morning the Santa Anita Park worktab was relatively light, but Team O'Neill was still at work with three Breeders' Cup hopefuls drilling Oct. 16.

Reddam Racing's undefeated Nyquist put in five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 under the watchful eye of trainer Doug O'Neill in preparation for the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I). It was the Uncle Mo   colt's second drill since a hard-earned victory in the FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Sept. 26.

NOVAK: Nyquist Determined in FrontRunner Score

"He went the last eighth in :12 1/5," O'Neill said. "He looked great and had good energy."

Another Reddam juvenile, Land Over Sea, also went five furlongs but traveled quicker at :59 4/5, the second-fastest breeze of 30 at the distance Friday morning.

"She went great," O'Neill said. "She got some unexpected company, which made her work a little bit faster than we intended, but she had really nice energy."

The Bellamy Road   filly is pointed to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), where she will likely encounter repeat rival Songbird, who has defeated Land Over Sea handily in both the Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) and Chandelier (gr. I).

"She's the real deal," O'Neill said of his pupil. "She has just ran into Jerry (Hollendorfer's) incredible filly a few times. She's knocking on the door to win a race like this. With a full field, you need some racing luck, and if she gets it, she could be right there."

Rounding out the O'Neill Breeders' Cup crew was Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) winner Sharla Rae, who ran four furlongs in :49 1/5. The move was the 3-year-old Afleet Alex   filly's second following a fifth-place finish in the Rodeo Drive (gr. IT) Sept. 26. She's expected to run in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).

"She's been really steady," O'Neill said. "Strong, and galloped out full of energy."

The trainer said, if everything goes well, all three are scheduled to ship to Keeneland Oct. 25.