Nyquist Greets Public After Derby Win

Trainer Doug O'Neill caught an early flight back to Southern California the morning of May 8, but Reddam Racing's champion Nyquist is headed to the other coast following his May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) victory.

O'Neill and his undefeated Uncle Mo   colt will be reunited soon in Baltimore with an eye on the May 21 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Nyquist ships to Pimlico Race Course May 9 and O'Neill is expected to join him soon after. For now, assistant trainers Leandro Mora and Jack Sisterson will oversee the horse's remaining hours at Churchill Downs.

"He ate everything and he looks like a million bucks," racing manager Steve Rothblum reported, as Nyquist walked the shedrow in Churchill's Barn 41. "He's going to be on his way to Baltimore Monday. It's just good to get the horse there, and to get his feet on the ground and let him sense that racetrack in his two weeks. It gives him a good time to adjust."

Nyquist emerged from the barn around 7:25 a.m. ET and stood calmly to greet fans and members of the media. He posed for a few pictures, and was content to drop his head and graze in between.

"He's very intelligent; nothing bothers him," Rothblum said. "We have a quiet confidence about the horse, there's no doubt. ...While we were confident he could do it, we understood all the questions. That's something that's not answered until you head down the lane at Churchill Downs and the Twin Spires are in view, and then you find out if you have the horse that can take that step forward.

"He's very sound, he's a wonderful athlete, the guys do a good job, he's dead fit, so onward and upward." 

BALAN: Nyquist Unrelenting in Kentucky Derby Victory

Mora said Nyquist will follow a relaxed pattern of easy preparation for the Preakness with just two weeks between races.

"Knowing the horse, knowing he's already fit, I guarantee you that he's going to be on his light training like we've been doing it," he said. "He's way too fit already. So Doug is going to make some decisions, and you guys will find out about it. I don't think we're going to push it as much as a few others, just keeping him in maintainance mode until the race."