Nyquist Posts First of Three Pre-Derby Workouts

Coady Photography/Keeneland Photo

The unbeaten champion and Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Nyquist, expected to be the favorite in the 142nd Kentucky Derby (gr. I) on May 7th, turned in the first of three pre-Derby workouts when he worked a mile at Keeneland on the morning of April 15th.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, the son of Uncle Mo was officially timed going five furlongs in 1:02.60, with fractions of :12.60, :24.80, and :37.20 and a gallop-out time of 1:17.20 for six furlongs. O’Neill timed Nyquist going a mile in an easy 1:50, with the last half-mile in :50 flat, while the Twitter account Racingwithbruno reported Nyquist going seven furlongs in 1:29.60 with fractions of :13.20, :26.20, :38.60, :51.60, 1:03.80, and 1:16.20, and a gallop-out time of 1:43 flat for a mile. Exercise rider Jonny Garcia was in the saddle.

“We were very happy with the work,” O’Neill was quoted as saying on the Keeneland website. “Jonny got him nice and settled and he actually went a mile. He got his first half in around a minute and the last half right at :50. He was stretching out good and straight as an arrow. We are all very happy with the breeze.”

A lengthy video of Nyquist’s workout can be watched here. Nyquist begins his exercise at approximately the 9:20 mark.

After the workout, Doug O’Neill announced that Nyquist would breeze twice more at Keeneland before the Kentucky Derby, likely on April 22nd and 29th. Both breezes are expected to be similar to today’s workout.

“This is what we do at home a lot of the time,” O’Neill said. “He has enough natural speed that we are not looking to add any speed and we will continue with the maintenance.”