Nyquist Speedy in Final Work for San Vicente

Doug O'Neill wanted a swift, short breeze from Reddam Racing's Nyquist eight days ahead of his 3-year-old debut in the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) and that's what he got Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park.



The undefeated champion 2-year-old male of 2015 officially breezed five furlongs in :59.38 under regular race rider Mario Gutierrez, but O'Neill had him a bit faster at :58 4/5 on his stopwatch.



"He worked unbelievably," O'Neill said after watching the drill from his normal perch in the grandstand. "Mario was really happy, so we're happy."



The Uncle Mo   colt did some things out of the ordinary during the work, his last in preparation for the seven-furlong San Vicente. The first uncommon aspect was that he worked in company, with graded stakes-placed stablemate Bad Read Sanchez.



"He normally goes by himself," O'Neill said. "I like letting him put his feet wherever he wants to put them and he is a horse that will work fine on his own, but today we put him in company just to put some competition back in his mind, because we're getting back to competing next weekend."



Nyquist seemed to embrace the competitive company all alone on the track with his friendly foe in a special workout session after normal training hours. After he started about a length back at the five-eighths pole, the three-time grade I winner effortlessly cruised past his stablemate late in the turn and was almost immediately three lengths ahead early in the stretch.



"The other horse is off form, but the other horse is a good worker," O'Neill said. "To do what he did was pretty special."



Another uncommon aspect was the length of his drill. Although Nyquist's work tab since the beginning of the year only shows five- and six-furlong runs, O'Neill has actually been starting his star pupil from the wire to have the colt run a full lap. On Sunday, Nyquist broke from the backstretch and cruised to the finish line.



"We're trying to sharpen him up a little bit," O'Neill said. "They're creatures of habit, so all those marathon works are great for a foundation, but you don't want him leaving the gate like he's getting prepared for a mile-and-a-half race."



The rest of Nyquist's training schedule will consist of a walk around the shedrow Feb. 8, then a gallop every morning until the San Vicente.