Nyquist in Strong Gallop; To Work Friday

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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Nyquist jogs at Keeneland April 11

In his first serious exercise since winning the April 2 Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (gr. I), Reddam Racing's Nyquist galloped strongly once around the main track at Keeneland the morning of April 11.

Following the outing, trainer Doug O'Neill said the colt will work Friday, April 15, at Keeneland.



With exercise rider Jonny Garcia aboard and assistant track Jack Sisterson, who was equipped with a GoPro camera on his helmet, observing, Nyquist jogged once around the track before galloping one lap.



"It was his first day back galloping and Jonny said he felt great," said Sisterson. "We couldn't be any happier with him. We're in a good position."



Sisterson said Nyquist, the champion 2-year-old male of 2015 who is undefeated in seven starts and is the current favorite for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I),  would once again gallop Tuesday, April 12. Following Nyquist's arrival at Keeneland the morning after the Florida Derby, in which the colt earned a $1 million bonus because he was sold at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of 2-year-olds in training and won Gulfstream Park's biggest race, he was diagnosed with an elevated white blood cell count that delayed his return to the track.



Now that the son of Uncle Mo   has resumed galloping, Sisterson said O'Neill and Paul Reddam would map out a workout schedule leading up to the May 7 Derby, which Reddam and O'Neill won in 2012 withI'll Have Another  .