Nyquist Improving; Exaggerator Jogs Two Miles

Reddam Racing's Nyquist was improving the morning of May 25 after an elevated white blood cell count and fever, while Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Exaggerator jogged two miles on the main track at Pimlico Race Course.

Nyquist, trained by Doug O'Neill, finished third in the May 21 Preakness a nose behind second-place finisher Cherry Wine. He was expected to run the June 11 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) along with Exaggerator and Cherry Wine until he spiked a fever at Pimlico May 23.

"He's doing great," O'Neill assistant Jack Sisterson told Maryland Jockey Club officials May 25. "We got the blood back yesterday and, as you guys know, with a slightly elevated white count. His temperature just spiked a little bit again. Doug wants to do the right thing by Nyquist and get him 100 percent right before we make a plan moving forward.

"He's great. We're taking the right precaution with the aspect of getting him back right. We'll get him back to California once he's 100 percent. We won't make any major plans as of yet."

As for Exaggerator, who is owned by Big Chief Racing, Head of Plains Partners, and Rocker O Ranch, trainer Keith Desormeaux said the Curlin colt exited the Preakness in good order and on track for the Belmont.

"He's good,' Desormeaux said. "He jogged a couple rounds on the track and he looks no worse for wear. He's eating up his feed and his legs are tight and cold. He's just doing all the things we want our horses to do post-race."

The plan is for Exaggerator to walk the shedrow May 26-27, gallop May 28, and ship to New York May 29. Desormeaux said the colt remains energetic post-Preakness.

"I can't quite explain it," he said. "They usually are a little down after a race. I think if a horse is fit and right mentally going into a race, they should recover quickly. They're fit athletes. We give them time to recover, and as long as they have a good mental constitution, a return to normalcy in 24 to 36 hours is not out of the question. He does it with regularity."