Nyquist works mile preparing for San Vicente

ARCADIA, Calif. – Nyquist is picking up in 2016 where he left off in 2015, at least in the morning.

The champion 2-year-old of 2015 after winning all five starts, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Nyquist posted a solid one-mile workout Sunday at Santa Anita and is on target for a Feb. 15 comeback in the Grade 2, seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes.

Nyquist was credited with a six-furlong time of 1:15.60 after an opening quarter-mile under Jonny Garcia in 30 seconds. The early part of the workout was slow by design. He broke off at the wire, went the first furlong in 16 seconds, and the second in 14.

“We’ve been doing that - two-minute licking him going into the work,” O’Neill explained. “He’s got so much energy; it kind of calms his mind a little bit.”

Nyquist worked by himself at 7:10, after which the colt’s exercise rider gave O’Neill positive feedback.

“Jonny knows him better than anyone and he was really happy. He loved the way he felt and said he didn’t get tired,” O’Neill said. “He was really happy with the stamina he displayed. We were really pumped before the work, and even more pumped after the work.”

Nyquist, a son of Uncle Mo owned by J. Paul Reddam and ridden in all five starts by Mario Gutierrez, was named champion 2-year-old of 2015 at the Eclipse Awards ceremony on Feb. 16 at Gulfstream Park.

Plans call for Nyquist to have two more workouts prior to the San Vicente.

“We’re not pushing him, he should be ready to get this campaign going,” O’Neill said.