LOUISVILLE — Nyquist is preparing for the next step in his racing career.
The Kentucky Derby winner departed Churchill Downs for Pimlico in Baltimore on Monday to prepare for the Preakness Stakes set for May 21. Nyquist defeated Exaggerator and Gun Runner to capture the Kentucky Derby in front of the second largest crowd in history Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
Trainer Doug O’Neill said Sunday that six horses, including Kentucky Oaks runner-up Land Over Sea will join Nyquist at Pimlico to train for the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Less than 12 hours after winning the Derby, O’Neill said the colt was “doing great” Sunday morning. Nyquist took a morning jog, walked, bathed and returned to his stall at Churchill Downs Sunday as he prepared for his next move.
“He had his head out over the webbing, looking bright-eyed,” O’Neill said. “He ate it all up last night. Couldn’t be doing better. He’s just such a special horse.”
Like Nyquist, Exaggerator was doing fine after a late surge propelled him to a runner-up finish behind Nyquist in Saturday’s thrilling finish.
“He’s good,” groomer Vic Bargac said. “He at it all last night and liked his breakfast, too. He’s doing very well.”
Exaggerator is expected to join Nyquist in the Preakness Stakes. Nyquist owner Paul Reddam said following the Kentucky Derby victory on Saturday he’s not surprised Exaggerator trainer Keith Desormeaux is so eager for a likely rematch.
“I would have thought he was sick of us by now,” Reddam joked.
In a more serious tone, Reddam said Exaggerator “ran great” in Saturday’s race.
“He was the closest threat,” he said. “And if I were him, I would want a rematch, too. The horses are not machines, so it will be a great race.”
Jockey Mario Gutierrez wasn’t surprised Nyquist held off Exaggerator on the final turn to make him 2-0 in the Derby. Gutierrez rode I’ll Have Another to victory in the Kentucky Derby four years ago at Churchill Downs.
“If anybody watches Nyquist races, you will see that he will not allow any other horse to pass him,” he said. “He’s the kind of horse that always has something left for whatever comes to him late. He’s been able to win by a nose. That’s how I get so much confidence from him. If anybody comes late, I know he’ll have something to respond to that.”
Although the favorite and unbeaten, Nyquist silenced critics after winning for the eighth consecutive time in his career.
“I feel really good for the horse,” Reddam said. “Along the way in the last year, he has taken a lot of shots for whatever reason. I think he proved his critics wrong (Saturday).”
Reddam said the chemistry with O’Neill also has paid dividends.
“You feed off your trainer,” Reddam said. “Doug has trained us for 12 years now. I have kind of been able to read O’Neill language.”
O’Neill, who led I’ll Have Another to victory in the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby in 2012, likes Nyquist’s chances to win the Triple Crown this year, one year after American Pharaoh accomplished the rare feat for the first time 37 years.
“He’s definitely the best horse I have ever been around,” O’Neill said Saturday. “Johnny Garcia, who gets on him every day, has been saying that for a while now and this horse is so strong and does everything so easy, and you know, he’s never tired. It doesn’t seem like we have gotten to the bottom of him. Like every other athlete, you’ve just got to stay injury-free, (apply) a lot of ice and (say) a lot of prayers.”
Keith Taylor is a senior sports writer for KyForward, where he primarily covers University of Kentucky sports. Reach him at keith.taylor@kyforward.com or @keithtaylor21 on Twitter