Nicky the Vest to miss Wood Memorial after 'subpar' work

Nicky the Vest, who gained attention after an 11 3/4-length win in the Gander Stakes, will miss Saturday's $750,000, Grade 2 Wood Memorial, trainer Jonathan Thomas told HRN Monday.

"His last work was just kind of subpar for what we're used to seeing from him," Thomas said. "I didn't feel like we were taking him in the way we'd like to."

He said he doesn't know what the problem might be with the Runhappy colt, who was the first stakes winner for his sire.

"I want to wait and kind of see. It's only been a day now, but I just wasn't happy with his gallop out. Typically, he's an exceptional workhorse and gallops out real well. And for whatever reason he just didn't show us that the other day."

Nicky the Vest's Gander score was his second start. He broke his maiden at Aqueduct in December.

Thomas acknowledged that missing the Wood is a disappointment.

"But at the end of the day it's horse first, and we definitely have too much respect for him to take him over there less than 100 percent."