Nyquist, Swipe set on path for rematch in Kentucky Derby

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Nyquist and Swipe, who ran first and second – in that order for the fourth consecutive time – Saturday in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, were to return to California in the coming days for a brief rest before gearing up for a run at next year’s Kentucky Derby.

Nyquist, trained by Doug O’Neill, yet again turned back Swipe, beating him by a half-length in the Juvenile, to cap a 5-for-5 campaign that should earn him an Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old colt. He added the Juvenile to victories in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and Grade 1 FrontRunner, both times defeating Swipe, trained by Keith Desormeaux. Nyquist also beat Swipe in the Grade 2 Best Pal in August at Del Mar.

The manner in which Nyquist won the Juvneile, coming from eighth position and about five lengths off the pace, “was mind-blowing,” according to O’Neil, who also said a one-mile workout around two turns leading up to the race was pivotal.

“We had talked about after the FrontRunner maybe doing things a little bit differently going into the Breeders’ Cup, and it might have been a small fraction of the successful result we saw yesterday,” O’Neill said by phone Sunday morning from Southern California. “The mile workout was beneficial getting this guy to realize the seven-eighths pole is not the three-eighths pole and you need to chill around that first turn.”

Nyquist ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.79, 1.06 seconds slower than Songbrid did winning the Juvenile Fillies. Nyquist earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure compared to a 99 earned by Songbird.

O’Neill said he had a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with owner Paul Reddam to discuss how best to get Nyquist to the Kentucky Derby. By virtue of victories in the Juvenile and FrontRunner, Nyquist has 30 qualifying points to the Derby – a system used by Churchill Downs in case the race overfills – which virtually guarantees him a spot in the Derby.

“That’s something we briefly touched base on a couple of hours after it all soaked in a little bit that he might only have two preps for the Derby if we’re lucky enough to keep him injury free,” said O’Neill.

In 2005, O’Neill and Reddam won the Juvenile with Stevie Wonderboy, who had only one start at 3 before being injured and retired. In 2012, O’Neill and Reddam won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with I’ll Have Another, who had only a maiden win on his resume by the end of his juvenile season.

Meanwhile, Desormeaux reported that both Swipe and Exaggerator, the latter who was beaten a neck for third by Brody’s Cause in the Juvenile, were “both sound and happy” Sunday morning.

Desormeaux said Swipe will get a rest, though he will stay with him at his Santa Anita barn. However, Exaggerator, who came out of the race full of energy, could run again this year, possibly as soon as the $1 million Delta Jackpot on Nov. 22 at Delta Downs.

“It’s three weeks, but it’s in my thoughts – I’ll tell you that,” Desormeaux said before leaving Keeneland.

Desormeaux said Exaggerator was too sharp all week, and that led to him being rank in the early stages of the race. Kent Desormeaux, Keith’s brother and the rider of Exaggerator, “had to repeatedly take hold of him – probably too much hold – which may have caused some airway issues,” Keith Desormeaux said. “He never got a chance to relax. I’ll take all the blame for that.”

Last year, Desormeaux won the BC Juvenile with Texas Red, but that horse got injured and didn’t make the spring classics. Desormeaux said he’s grateful for another opportunity. Both Swipe and Exaggerator are owned by Matt Bryan’s Big Chief Racing.

“When they run that well – and both of them consistently ran well – and they’re both bred for the distance, we’re going to figure out the best way to get to the first Saturday in May,” Desormeaux said. “That’s what it’s all about with young horses.”