Clocker: Nyquist bursting with energy

CHURCHILL DOWNS

TRACK: Fast

WEATHER: Cloudy

TEMP.: 55

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - There was lots to look at and lots to look for during Tuesday’s Kentucky Derby/Kentucky Oaks training session, which featured the first local gallop from the undefeated Nyquist and first real local work by the Japanese invader Lani, whose training regimen leading up to the race has been a bit unusual and eventful.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

NYQUIST - The juvenile champion and Derby favorite had done little more than walk and jog since he breezed at Keeneland on Saturday and vanned over to Churchill Downs the following afternoon. So it came as no surprise that he was full of energy when he left the pony, tossing his head and proving a bit of a handful for his rider before settling down and turning in a strong gallop. He did seem to lose focus briefly near midstretch, switching over to his left lead as he’s done in earlier works and in late stretch of the Florida Derby. His connections seemed unconcerned. After the work, assistant trainer Jack Sisterton said: "That’s just him. He plays around. He couldn’t be doing any better.” After watching him train this morning, it would be hard to disagree. He’ll jog on Wednesday and have his final Derby gallop on Thursday.

LANI - He was scheduled to work six furlongs but balked when dropped to the rail at the three-quarter marker. He finally did get going at the five-eighths pole, going to the wire in 1:00.72 off early splits of 24.70 and 36.41 while under steady urging throughout. Lani finished with his ears pinned, and pulled up quickly into the turn, recording no gallop-out time. Certainly an improvement over any previous attempts to work, but still not the attitude or kind of move you’d like to see just four days removed from the Derby.

EXAGGERATOR - Santa Anita Derby winner seems to have come out of Saturday’s work doing okay. He was on his left lead through much of the stretch during a routine gallop.

SHAGAF - Trained by Chad Brown, he continues to impress. May have had his best morning yet after turning in a very impressive half-mile breeze with a super strong gallop-out on Saturday.

MY MAN SAM - The second of Brown’s Derby duo continues to be aggressive during his gallops but in a controlled way. Another doing well coming out of his weekend work.

MOHAYMEN - Was on the muscle again this morning, perhaps a tad too much so. He was in run-off mode on his left lead coming down the stretch the final time, and like Mor Spirit gives the impression he may become more a pace factor on Saturday than originally expected.

MAJESTO - He’s back to his usual ways following Saturday’s work, galloping with great energy and completing the session going at well better than a two-minute-mile pace down the stretch and around the clubhouse turn prior to pulling up down the backstretch. Really seems to be enjoying himself since leaving south Florida and arriving here last week.

DESTIN - Has finally acclimated himself to the local surroundings. He appeared more focused during a routine gallop this morning than he had been when first arriving from Palm Beach Downs. He’s also not shown the same propensity to get hot as he had in his first several local training sessions.

OUTWORK - Arguably the most imposing physical specimen in the field, he has looked very sharp on a regular basis both prior to and since his outstanding five-furlong breeze here last weekend.

Among the fillies, California invader MOKAT really caught the eye for a second straight morning. The Santa Anita Oaks runner-up, she galloped at a high energy level while looking happy and striding out nicely over the local surface, and may have a chance to outrun her odds in the Kentucky Oaks.