Derby clocker: Nyquist's work pushed back a day

KeenelandWeather: CloudyTemperature: 58Training Track: Fast

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The first of Daily Racing Form’s workout reports leading up to the 2016 Kentucky Derby was supposed to start with a real bang, with likely favorite Nyquist scheduled to put in his penultimate work for the race Friday at Keeneland. But Mother Nature stepped in to alter those plans, with overnight rain leading trainer Doug O’Neill to postpone the work until Saturday.

Instead, Nyquist had a very good morning skipping over the synthetic surface on the Keeneland training track, where he jogged once around the five-furlong oval before putting in an energetic gallop of nearly one mile, cruising through his final three-eighths at a lively clip, his ears pricked as he came down the stretch before easing up on the turn.

“We walked the [main] track a little bit early this morning,” said O’Neill. “It looked safe, but [I] figured the weather forecast was going to be good tomorrow, so why not wait a day? We could have worked if we wanted to, but having the luxury of the synthetic track is so huge, to be able to gallop on a day where it had rained most of last night. And I thought he really looked good this morning. This horse loves to train.”

[bc_video_id:381794:]O’Neill said he even tossed around the idea of asking for permission to breeze Nyquist prior to the first race on Friday’s card at Keeneland before deciding to wait until Saturday.

“We had the extra day built into the schedule, so pushing back another day is not a problem,” said O’Neill. “I love the idea of having seven days between works, so ideally, he works tomorrow, comes out of it good, and then comes back again next Saturday, comes out of it good, and then ships over to Churchill Downs.”

O’Neill said he is not looking for much more than maintenance works in Nyquist’s final two breezes leading up to the Derby, although he did plan to put him in company Saturday.

“We’re not trying to set any track records in the morning, just maintain where he’s at right now, and I’m really happy with that at the moment,” said O’Neill. “His coat looks good, his weight looks great, and he’s really continued to maintain good flesh and good energy all winter. I’ll put him in company [Saturday] because he just seems to get more out of it when he goes with another horse, and does it easier. I’ll have him start at the wire and then pick it up late.”