Nyquist, Land Over Sea put in easy works

ARCADIA, Calif. – While American Pharoah and Beholder were the major names working at Santa Anita on Friday morning, the unbeaten 2-year-old colt Nyquist stayed on course for his appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Keeneland with an easy half-mile work in 52 seconds for trainer Doug O’Neill.

“Just a little leg-stretcher,” O’Neill said. “He two-minute licked around there and came the last half-mile in 52 seconds. He looks fantastic.”

Nyquist comes off a hard-fought victory in the FrontRunner Stakes on Sept. 26. He has won two consecutive Grade 1 races, having taken the Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 7. According to the California Horse Racing Board's veterinarian's list, Nyquist underwent shockwave therapy on Sept. 29.

O’Neill also sent out the 2-year-old filly Land Over Sea for a similar drill, and she was timed in 51 seconds for a half-mile at the end of a two-minute lick. Land Over Sea most recently was second in the Chandelier Stakes on Sept. 26 against Songbird, whom she will face again in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

O’Neill said that both Nyquist and Land Over Sea will do all their serious training at Santa Anita before flying to Kentucky just days prior to the Breeders’ Cup.

“That way, we know fairly certain what the weather will be,” O’Neill said.

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Gomo, who won the Alcibiades Stakes to give O’Neill a second starter in the Juvenile Fillies, remained at Keeneland with assistant Jack Sisterson.

Sisterson also is looking after Hopeful Stakes winner Ralis, who shipped to Keeneland after running in the Champagne Stakes and will join Nyquist in the gate for the Juvenile.