Dortmund Works, Will Skip San Pasqual

After Dortmund's third workout following his victory in the Native Diver Stakes (gr. III), trainer Bob Baffert said a run in the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 9 at Santa Anita Park is no longer an option for the son of Big Brown  .

The 4-year-old colt owned by Kaleem Shah breezed seven furlongs in 1:25 4/5 Jan. 3 at Santa Anita under regular rider Martin Garcia, but his Hall of Fame trainer was hoping for a little better finish.

"He worked all right, but he was tired at the end of it," Baffert said. "He didn't really finish like I'd like to see him finish. I missed time with him after that quarter crack (after the Native Diver) and I wanted to see him finish up a little bit better today."

BALAN: Dortmund Dominant in Native Diver

With Dortmund out of the San Pasqual, a potential matchup with California Chrome   may have to wait until later in the year. Baffert said the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 12 is the ultimate target for Dortmund, while California Chrome is scheduled to travel overseas for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 26. Baffert also said Dortmund "should be good" for the $500,000 San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 6 at Santa Anita.

On Jan. 2 California Chrome worked six furlongs in 1:10.04 during a special late-morning workout session at Santa Anita, just before the day's races.

BALAN: California Chrome Blazes in Santa Anita Drill

Also on the Santa Anita worktab Sunday was Reddam Racing's likely 2-year-old champion colt Nyquist, who covered five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 for trainer Doug O'Neill. It was the undefeated Uncle Mo   colt's third drill since his half-length win in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 31. He breezed three furlongs in :37 Dec. 19 and four furlongs in :48 2/5 Dec. 27.

"Awesome," O'Neill said of Nyquist, who is taking a somewhat unconventional path to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). "In an ideal world, he's going to run big in the San Vicente (gr. II, Feb. 20 at Santa Anita), he's going to come out of that in great shape, run big in the Florida Derby (gr. I, April 4 at Gulfstream Park), come out of that in great shape, then he's going to Kentucky."

Gulfstream, in partnership with Fasig-Tipton, is offering a $1 million bonus to the Florida Derby winner if the horse is graduate of last year's 2015 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-olds in training sale. Nyquist was purchased for $400,000 at that sale by O'Neill's brother, Dennis.

Other notable workers on a jam-packed work tab of 333 horses Sunday were Mor Spirit (six furlongs, 1:13 flat), Exaggerator (four furlongs, :48 3/5), Toews On Ice (four furlongs, :48 4/5), Ralis (five furlongs, 1:04 2/5), and Kobe's Back (four furlongs, :47 1/5).