Derby Winner Nyquist Arrives at Pimlico

Just two days after winning the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Reddam Racing’s Nyquist arrived at Pimlico Race Course May 9 to begin preparing to run in the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I). At 1 3/16 miles, the second leg of racing’s Triple Crown will be renewed May 21.

Accompanied by six stablemates, three grooms, and Jack Sisterson, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill, Nyquist arrived via KC Horse Transport van at 6:08 p.m. EDT, briefly posed for media photos minutes later, and was calmly walking the shed row at 6:20 p.m.

The son of Uncle Mo   out of the Forestry mare Seeking Gabrielle will bed down in stall 24 of the second stakes barn at Pimlico, eschewing the traditional end stall in the primary stakes barn reserved for the Derby winner.

O’Neill’s 2012 Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another   also stayed in the second barn.

The trip from Louisville, Ky., went “very well,” Sisterson said after Nyquist settled in. “The beauty about Nyquist is he’s mentally so prepared for anything you put in front of him.”

Sisterson said Nyquist will follow much of the same routine as I’ll Have Another in his successful Preakness bid, and that included a flight to Maryland after one day of rest following the Derby.

“He’ll walk the next couple days and then get back to the track jogging like we’ve done his whole career,” Sisterson said. “He’ll jog one day and gallop the next.”

Sisterson said it is unlikely Nyquist will have a workout before the Preakness.

“We didn’t’ work I’ll Have Another, so I don’t think we’ll work Nyquist. Just keep him happy. There’s not much we can do in two weeks. I think his record speaks for itself. We’re not going to change anything we’ve done in the past.”

Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) runner-up Land Over Sea joined Nyquist on his journey and is scheduled to run May 20 in the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II).