Reddam Racing's undefeated champion Nyquist (Uncle Mo) had his first work at Keeneland since winning the GI Xpressbet.com Florida Derby Friday morning, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.60 over a fast track in preparation for the May 7 GI Kentucky Derby.
With regular exercise rider Jonny Garcia aboard, the bay backtracked to the half-mile pole alongside a pony and jogged to the sixteenth pole, where he broke away from the pony.
Keeneland clockers caught Nyquist in fractions of :12.60, :24.80, :37.20 and 1:02.60 with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:17.20 (video).
It was the first of three scheduled works at Keeneland for Nyquist before he moves to Churchill Downs the weekend before the Derby. He is scheduled to work the next two Fridays as well.
“We were very happy with the work,” trainer Doug O'Neill said. “Jonny got him nice and settled and he actually went a mile. He got his first half in around a minute and the last half right at :50. He was stretching out good and straight as an arrow. We are all very happy with the breeze.”
Reddam's GI Kentucky Oaks contender Land Over Sea (Bellamy Road) also breezed at Keeneland Friday, covering five furlongs in 1:02.80 (video) with Garcia aboard. The chestnut, who was last seen romping in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 26, was clocked in fracitons of :13, :25.60 and :37.40 with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:17.20.
“She looks great,” O'Neill said. “She worked well. She was eager the first part of it, but Jonny got her to settle.”
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