O'Neill to Preside Over Nyquist's Half-Mile Workout Friday
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Photo:
Gulfstream Park
Trainer Doug O’Neill was at Keeneland Thursday morning to watch his undefeated Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) favorite, Nyquist, continue his preparations for the Run for the Roses.
With regular exercise rider Jonny Garcia aboard, Nyquist jogged twice around the main track before the morning renovation break alongside a pony with assistant Jack Sisterson aboard.
Owned by Reddam Racing, Nyquist is scheduled to work at 7 a.m. Friday.
“That is about our usual time back home,” said O’Neill, who is based at Santa Anita. “He’ll actually go a mile with a two-minute lick for the first half-mile.”
O’Neill said Nyquist is scheduled to work three times at Keeneland before going to Churchill Downs the Saturday or Sunday before the May 7 Derby.
The trainer plans to stay in Lexington through Saturday, return to Southern California for a few days and come back to Lexington next Wednesday.
Also scheduled to work Friday morning for O’Neill is Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner Land Over Sea. Headed to the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Land Over Sea also is slated for three Keeneland works.
SWIPE ARRIVES FOR SATURDAY’S LEXINGTON
Big Chief Racing, Fizzy Racing and Billy Shelton’s Swipe, the probable favorite for Saturday’s Lexington (G3), arrived at Keeneland Wednesday afternoon from California and walked the shedrow Thursday morning.
“He’s very frisky this morning with this cooler weather,” said Julie Clark, assistant to trainer Keith Desormeaux.
Swipe, a colt by Birdstone, will make his first start Saturday since finishing second to Nyquist in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) here in October.
Clark said Swipe would remain at Keeneland until he joins stablemate Exaggerator when he ships to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). Exaggerator, who was second in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here last fall, won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) last Saturday.
Source: Keeneland
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