O'Neill: Nyquist Will 'Run Big' Saturday

Trainer Doug O'Neill agreed to provide his insight to followers of "America's Best Racing" as Nyquist, his Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner, attempts to take another step toward the Triple Crown in the May 21 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico Race Course. The following is his second of two diaries as told to Tom Pedulla:

After we drew post three in a field of 11 for the Preakness, I joked with reporters, "We all wanted the three."

I suspect I did not fool them. In actuality, we were hoping for an outside post with all of the speed inside of us. It was hoping for a lot, and it did not happen.

It was the first thing not totally to our liking since we arrived at Churchill Downs to begin our Triple Crown run. If this is our biggest problem, I can definitely live with it.

Our entire team is as relaxed as can be because Nyquist is doing so well. He is leaving the feed tub empty. Jonny Garcia, who knows him so well as his exercise rider, tells me his energy level is as high as it has always been.

We cannot be sure how the two weeks between the Derby and the Preakness will affect Nyquist until the race is run at 6:45 p.m. EDT on Saturday. Horses do talk to those who are smart enough to listen. Nyquist is telling us he is sitting on go.

I do not anticipate that the post will be a major problem. There is more speed in this race than there was in the Derby. But our rider, Mario Gutierrez, keeps his cool when the heat is on, and he is an excellent judge of pace. If the pace is hot, Nyquist is handy enough to sit off it. If the other speed horses should lay back, we would be happy to show the way.

A forecast that calls for rain is not overly disturbing, either. It rained before Nyquist handed Mohaymen his first career defeat in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. There was a downpour about an hour before the Kentucky Derby. Nyquist is a sure-footed horse who has shown he can get over pretty much any kind of surface.

Every Preakness starter must be respected. They all have the credentials to be here. There are a few that stand out from the rest. I have great respect for Exaggerator, especially if it should come up muddy. He loved the slop when he ran away with the Santa Anita Derby. Stradivari could be any kind of horse for Todd Pletcher. Collected has not done anything wrong, either, for Bob Baffert.

I am much more at ease at the Preakness this year than I was when I brought I'll Have Another in 2012. That was a great learning experience. I took several things away from it. Stick to what got you here; now is not the time to change anything. And we want to make sure we enjoy the ride. Everything seemed as though it was going at warp speed when we had I'll Have Another. This time, we are all making an effort to take a deep breath, soak everything in, and enjoy the Preakness for the wonderful event it is.

I am not into predictions. But Nyquist is 3-5 for a reason. He will run big.