Nyquist Works Six Furlongs in 1:13

Nyquist, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), worked six furlongs in 1:13 at Santa Anita Park Oct. 17 and is progressing well toward his next scheduled start in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), according to trainer Doug O'Neill.

"He finished up great and has great energy," O'Neill said. "Jonny Garcia, who gets on him every day and knows him so well, was happy with him."

Reddam Racing's son of Uncle Mo   had the day's second-fastest work out of five at the distance, getting the six panels in 2/5ths of second slower than O'Neill's graded stakes winning filly Land Over Sea, who worked 1:12 3/5.

Nyquist will face his toughest competition yet in the Classic, which is expected to include heavyweights California Chrome  , who is undefeated in five graded/group starts this year, and Arrogate, who won the Travers Stakes (gr. I) by 13 1/2 lengths and in record-setting time. Nyquist comes into the Classic off a sixth-place finish in the Sept. 24 Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) and fourth-place finish in the betfair.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I), so O'Neill sees clearly the steep climb ahead. Still his optimism for Nyquist's chances are undiminished.

"This is home track; he loves it here, he's undefeated here," O'Neill said. "I feel like we have a little home court edge running here at Santa Anita. His coat looks great. His appetite is good. He is loose in the warm-up. All good so far. There are $6 million reasons for the top horses to show up, but we're eager and excited for the challenge."