Nyquist goes slow half-mile in first work toward Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. – Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist worked a half-mile in 50.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Friday, his first serious exercise since a sixth-place finish in the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20.

Trainer Doug O’Neill said he plans to give Nyquist three works this month in advance of the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic here on Nov. 5. Nyquist will be retired to stud in Kentucky after the BC Classic, O’Neill said.

Nyquist worked alone on Friday. He ran the final furlong in 11.40 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:04, according to O’Neill.

The champion 2-year-old male of 2015, Nyquist is winless in three starts since the Kentucky Derby on May 7. He was third in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 21 and fourth in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 31. In the Pennsylvania Derby, Nyquist finished five lengths behind race winner Connect.

The BC Classic is run at 1 1/4 miles and will be Nyquist’s first start against older horses. The field is led by California Chrome, who is unbeaten in six starts this year.

“It will be a tall order for sure,” O’Neill said of the BC Classic.

Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Nyquist has won 8 of 11 starts and earned $5,189,200. Nyquist has won all three of his starts at Santa Anita, including the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes here in February.