Nyquist is Headed to the 2016 Haskell Invitational

Two-Year-Old Champion and Kentucky Derby winner, Nyquist, is confirmed to be making his next start in the $1,000,000 betfair.com Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Sunday, July 31, 2016.

“We’re very grateful to Paul and Zillah Reddam and Doug O’Neill on their decision to run Nyquist in the Haskell,” said Bob Kulina, president of Darby Development LLC, operators of the racetrack.  “The Haskell has always been the race where champions prove their greatness and the addition of Nyquist to the field will ensure that fans see another fantastic renewal of New Jersey’s biggest horse race.”

Trainer Doug O’Neill and the Team Reddam owners made their plans to head to the New Jersey shore racetrack public after Nyquist worked five furlongs in 59 seconds at his home base of Santa Anita.

“We’re headed to New Jersey,” said O’Neill.  “He very much impressed us this morning with his work.  Mario (Gutierrez) was aboard and he looked really solid.  We’re pumped up and can’t wait to get to New Jersey.”

Nyquist will continue his preparation for the Haskell in Southern California. “He’ll ship down to Del Mar and train there,” O’Neill said.  “We don’t have specific shipping plans just yet, but we’ll work that out over the next week or so.”

The Haskell will be Nyquist’s return to racing since his first career loss in the Preakness, when he finished third behind the winner Exaggerator. Nyquist, a son of Uncle Mo, will try and solidify his spot on top of the three-year-old division with his trip to the east coast. The Haskell and the Travers are the only two grade one stakes, restricted to the sophomores, that remain in 2016.

The Haskell will be Nyquist’s tenth career start at his seventh different track around the country. His current record stands at 9: 8-0-1 with earnings of $5,119,200.