Nyquist works a mile for Pennsylvania Derby

Nyquist, winless in two starts since his victory in the Kentucky Derby on May 7, worked a mile in 1:38.20 at the San Luis Rey Downs training center on Saturday, his final workout before a start in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing next Saturday.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, Nyquist has not raced since finishing fourth in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 31.

Nyquist began Saturday’s workout slowly – at the pace of a gallop, or “two-minute lick,” according to O’Neill’s assistant Steve Rothblum. The pace intensified through the final half-mile, Rothblum said.

“He went pretty well,” Rothblum said. “He went the last three-eighths in [36.80 seconds]. If that doesn’t set him up, I don’t know what will.”

Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Nyquist is scheduled to be sent to Pennsylvania on Wednesday. The champion 2-year-old male of 2015, Nyquist won his first eight starts, a span that included the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland last October and the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in April. Nyquist’s bid for a Triple Crown ended with a third in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 21.

Also Saturday, Arrogate and Cupid, two of trainer Bob Baffert’s leading 3-year-olds, worked at Santa Anita, as did the champion females Beholder and Stellar Wind.

Arrogate, the winner of the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in track-record time, worked a half-mile in 46.60 seconds, the fastest of 75 recorded works at the distance. Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Arrogate has had two half-mile workouts since the Baffert stable returned to Santa Anita from Del Mar.

Cupid, a candidate for the Pennsylvania Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:00. Cupid won the Indiana Derby in July and the West Virginia Derby in August. Baffert said in a text message that he will finalize plans for Cupid “in a couple of days.”

Beholder, a three-time champion, and Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, are scheduled to meet for the third time this year in the $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1. Beholder and Stellar Wind were first and second in the Grade 1 Vanity Stakes in June, but the order was reversed in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar in late July.

Beholder was second to California Chrome in the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 20. Stellar Wind has not raced since the Hirsch Stakes.

On Saturday, Beholder worked seven furlongs in 1:26.40, while Stellar Wind worked six furlongs in 1:14.