Nyquist sharpens for San Vicente

ARCADIA, Calif. - Nyquist, the unbeaten winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland last October, worked six furlongs in 1:14 at Santa Anita on Sunday. He is expected to have his 2016 debut in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Feb. 15.

Nyquist was timed in 1:01 for the first five furlongs, according to track clockers.

“The bottom line is this part of the foundation we need to get his campaign going,” trainer Doug O’Neill said.

Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Nyquist has won four stakes in his five starts. He has earned $1,613,600. The win in the BC Juvenile was his third consecutive Grade 1 win, preceded by the Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs on Sept. 7 and the FrontRunner Stakes at 1 1/16 miles here on Sept. 26.

Two other prominent 3-year-olds worked Sunday – Mor Spirit and Smokey Image.

Mor Spirit, the winner of the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 19, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60. Trained by Bob Baffert, Mor Spirit is a candidate for the $150,000 Robert Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 6.

Smokey Image, who is unbeaten in five starts, worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds. Smokey Image was trained by Greg James in 2015 but was transferred to trainer Carla Gaines late last year. Smokey Image won four sprint stakes last year, including two stakes for California-breds at Del Mar – the I’m Smokin Stakes at six furlongs on Sept. 4 and the Golden State Juvenile at seven furlongs on Oct. 30.