Nyquist, Songbird Drill at Del Mar

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Nyquist and undefeated 3-year-old filly Songbird both were put through workouts July 17 at Del Mar in preparation for top-level East Coast starts this summer.

Reddam Racing's Nyquist, who went five furlongs in 1:02 under exercise rider Jonny Garcia, is scheduled to make his first start since finishing third in the Preakness (gr. I) in the $1 million Betfair.com Haskell Invitational (gr. I) July 31 at Monmouth Park.

"We're very happy," trainer Doug O'Neill said of the drill in company with stablemate Snappy Jack. "He basically two-minute licked, galloped out good, and looks well."

Fox Hill Farms' Songbird is aimed for the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) July 24 at Saratoga Race Course and logged a bullet six furlongs in 1:11 2/5 at Del Mar Sunday under jockey Mike Smith. Del Mar clockers had Songbird for splits of :23 1/5, :45 2/5, and :59 flat, with a seven-furlong gallop out in 1:25 and mile in 1:39.

Nyquist will have one more work at Del Mar next weekend, while Songbird will be New York-bound sometime during the upcoming week.

Also on the work tab was Kaleem Shah's Dortmund, who logged his last work in preparation for a showdown with California Chrome in the San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 23.

The son of Big Brown won his last start, also at Del Mar, in Native Diver Stakes (gr. III) Nov. 28 and covered six furlongs in 1:12 Sunday.

Dortmund worked with Bob Baffert stablemate Fusaichi Samurai and the pair went through their work  on an empty track at 10:30 a.m. following the normal conclusion of training hours.

Del Mar's clockers timed Dortmund, with jockey Stewart Elliott up, in :24 1/5, :47 3/5, and :59 flat prior  to his final time. They had him galloping out seven furlongs in 1:25 3/4. Fusaichi Samurai was given a five-furlong clocking of :59 4/5.

Beginning at the five-eighths pole several lengths behind Fusaichi Samurai, Dortmund and Elliott came up on the outside and drew even at the top of the stretch. The stablemates went evenly until Dortmund pulled clear 50 yards before the wire.

Gary Stevens has the mount on Dortmund for the San Diego.