Nyquist back in California, next move uncertain
Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist returned to California on Wednesday and was on the track Thursday morning for a jog, but what comes next is uncertain.
“He’s back here, he looks fantastic, but plans are up in the air right now,” trainer Doug O’Neill said.
O’Neill said that if Nyquist is to run in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita the weekend of Nov. 4-5, he will run in the Classic. He said there is no interest, for instance, in the Dirt Mile.
Nyquist was last year’s champion 2-year-old male. Last fall, his breeding rights were sold to Darley, where Nyquist will go upon retirement from racing.
Nyquist won the first eight starts of his career, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby, but has lost three straight, most recently finishing sixth in the Pennsylvania Derby last Saturday at Parx Racing.