Nyquist to Arrive at Gulfstream March 28

Trainer Doug O'Neill confirmed March 9 that Reddam Racing's undefeated champion Nyquist is scheduled to arrive at Gulfstream Park March 28 for a highly anticipated clash with undefeated multiple grade II winner Mohaymen in the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (gr. I) April 2.

"Our plan right now is to ship on the 28th. We're scheduled to breeze (March 10) and every week until we go there," O'Neill said. "When he gets there he'll just go to the track. He won't work."

The Santa Anita Park-based colt is undefeated in six lifetime starts, including a triumph in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 31 to clinch the 2015 Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male. 

"The Keeneland race showed he can travel. We're not concerned about him needing a certain track. I don't think the surface matters to him," said O'Neill, who shipped He's Had Enough   to Gulfstream for a fifth-place finish in the 2013 Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II).

Nyquist made a successful 2016 debut at Santa Anita Feb. 15 when the son of Uncle Mo   notched a 1 1/2-length decision in the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) under regular jockey Mario Gutierrez. Reddam Racing, O'Neill, and Gutierrez teamed up with I'll Have Another   to capture the first two classics of the 2012 Triple Crown.

Mohaymen, who has won the Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) and Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth during the Gulfstream meet, is preparing for the Florida Derby at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training center in Palm Beach County.