O’Neill points Nyquist, Mrazek to Labor Day stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Doug O’Neill will have a team of 2-year-olds spread across the nation on Labor Day.

On Friday, O’Neill said he plans to run Nyquist, the winner of the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 8, in the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs Sept. 7, closing day of the summer meeting. Mrazek, the winner of the Graduation Stakes for California-breds on Aug. 5, is bound for Saratoga and the $350,000 Hopeful Stakes at seven furlongs Sept. 7, closing day of that meeting.

Nyquist is unbeaten in two starts, having also won a maiden race at Santa Anita in his debut June 5. O’Neill said the decision to run the colts on opposite coasts was reached after conversations with owners Paul and Zillah Reddam.

Mrazek will make his graded stakes debut in the Grade 1 Hopeful.

“He’s a quality colt,” O’Neill said.

The result of the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity will be heavily scrutinized. Triple Crown winner American Pharoah won his maiden in the 2014 Del Mar Futurity, his second career start.

Nyquist, by Uncle Mo, will face a field that is expected to include Swipe, the runner-up in the Best Pal, and the maiden-race winners Blameitonthelaw, Mt Veeder, Rockin Bayou, and Young Brian.

The race will not include On Fire, the winner of a one-mile maiden race Wednesday. Trainer Simon Callaghan said the $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 26 at Santa Anita has greater appeal. American Pharoah won the 2014 FrontRunner in his final start as a 2-year-old.

On Fire, by Friesan Fire, races for Arnold Zetcher.

“I think he’ll continue to progress,” Callaghan said. “It’s the time of year to find out what we’ve got. The progression at the distance is the right thing to do.”

On Fire was third to Exaggerator in his debut in a maiden race July 25. Exaggerator won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special for trainer Keith Desormeaux on Aug. 16.

The Del Mar Futurity is the top race for 2-year-old males at the summer meeting. The $300,000 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 5 is the top race for 2-year-old fillies.

Trainer Bob Baffert will have the Del Mar Debutante favorite in Pretty N Cool, who is unbeaten in two starts, including the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 12.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has three prospects for the Del Mar Debutante – the maiden winners Songbird and Surfside Tiara and Stays in Vegas, the winner of the Wine Country Debutante Stakes at Santa Rosa on Aug. 14.

In the long term, Baffert has another outstanding 2-year-old filly prospect in Jade Princess, who won a one-mile maiden race by 5 1/4 lengths Thursday in her second start. Jade Princess was a well-beaten fifth in her debut Aug. 9. By Tapit, Jade Princess is a candidate for the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies Sept. 26 at Santa Anita.

“We thought when we stretched her out she’d be tough,” Baffert said Friday from Saratoga. “She’s a quality filly.”