Nyquist Ships to Churchill Day After Work

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Nyquist Ships to Churchill Day After Work
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Photo: Ron Mitchell
Nyquist and trainer Doug O'Neill arrive at Churchill Downs April 30

Trainer Doug O’Neill said Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorite Nyquist "looked good and sound" April 30, a day after his one-mile breeze at Keeneland and following a van trip to Churchill Downs.

"I think the breeze yesterday was a really good piece of exercise, so that will carry us into next weekend pretty good," O’Neill said shortly after the Uncle Mo   colt settled into his stall in Barn 41 at the Louisville track.

Nyquist arrived in early afternoon Saturday, along with eight other O'Neill trainees, and was walked around the shedrow by the trainer for about 20-25 minutes before going into his stall.

Nyquist had been stabled at Keeneland since his victory in the Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (gr. I), enabling O’Neill to utilize the track’s synthetic training track on days when the main track was impacted by inclement weather.

"Churchill is great, but Keeneland has a little bit more of a 'ranchy' feel to it," the conditioner said. "It just seems like horses really relax well there. Of course, the biggest thing is the synthetic training track (allowed us) on the days it rained to continue training. So Keeneland was a big asset.”

The colt, who has won all seven of his starts and was voted champion 2-year-old male of 2015, will go to the track daily during the 8:30 a.m. time allocated for only Derby and Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) horses.

The colt is scheduled to jog May 1 and May 2, gallop May 3, go to the paddock and gate May 4, gallop May 5, jog May 6, and walk  May 7, Derby Day.

Including a $1 million bonus earned for being sold at the Fasig-Tipton March sale of 2-year-olds in training and then going on to win the Florida Derby, Nyquist has earned $3,322,600. In addition to Gulfstream Park’s premier Kentucky Derby prep, the colt has won five graded stakes, including the FrontRunner Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, both grade I.

Asked about whether he has any trepidation about Nyquist’s ability to navigate the 1 1/4 miles of the Derby, O’Neill said he believes the colt’s past performances indicate he should be able to handle the challenge.

"None of these horses have gone a mile and a quarter yet, so it’s a question mark for all of us," O’Neill said. "The way he’s won routing tells me we should be OK, but you never know with a 20-horse field, at a mile and a quarter for all of them. But we’re very optimistic we will be in good shape."

O’Neill said one of the special things about Nyquist that sets him apart from other horses is his demeanor.

"I think what makes him so special is his demeanor," O’Neill said. "He is a horse who seems to thrive on competition. … Him being seven-for-seven is pretty unbelievable, no matter what circuit you’re on, and he’s knocked heads with some top horses and he’s flown around the country, and he’s been able to maintain his top form, so that makes him very special.”