Nyquist targeting Haskell

Nyquist, the Kentucky Derby winner, will launch the second half of his 2016 campaign in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 31, trainer Doug O’Neill said Monday.

O’Neill said he “got the go-ahead to point for the Haskell from Paul and Zillah Reddam,” the owners of Nyquist, shortly after Nyquist worked a strong five furlongs Monday at Santa Anita, which O’Neill caught in 59 seconds.

“He worked really well,” O’Neill said.

The work was the fourth for Nyquist since returning to training after briefly having time off owing to a minor illness following the Preakness. Nyquist finished third in the Preakness, his first loss. He has been working about once a week and thus should have two more drills before heading to New Jersey.

The Haskell will be televised live by NBC as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. It is a Win and You’re In race toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita. Among those expected for the Haskell is Gun Runner, who was third in the Kentucky Derby behind Nyquist and in his lone start since then captured the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Last year’s Haskell was won by American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown winner, who went on to win the Classic and was named Horse of the Year.

Nyquist won the first eight starts of his career prior to the Preakness. He won the San Vicente at Santa Anita and the Florida Derby at Gulfstream prior to the Kentucky Derby. He has yet to race at Monmouth, which will be the seventh track at which he has raced in his 10th start.

Last year, Nyquist won all five of his starts, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, and was named champion 2-year-old male.