Nyquist (Uncle Mo) exited his victory in Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby in fine shape and is expected to ship to Baltimore Monday ahead of the May 21 GI Preakness S.
“He's doing great,” trainer Doug O'Neill reported. “He had his head out over the webbing, looking bright eyed. He ate it all up last night. Couldn't be doing better. He's just such a special horse.”
Nyquist will be one of six O'Neill horses shipping to Pimlico Monday. The group will also include Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up Land Over Sea (Bellamy Road).
Also Preakness-bound is Derby runner-up Exaggerator (Curlin) (full story p3).
“He's good,” groom Vic Bargac said of the GI Santa Anita Derby winner. “He ate it all last night and he liked his breakfast today, too. He's doing very well.”
Steve Asmussen's Derby duo of Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), third, and Creator (Tapit), 13th, were both in fine shape Sunday, but the trainer will wait before making any plans for the pair.
“We'll give them a couple of days,” Asmussen said. “They'll go back to the track on Wednesday, and I'll speak with the owners and see what should happen next.”
Of Gun Runner's gritty third-place effort, Asmussen said, “I'm very proud of him. I thought he gave a great effort. An excellent running of the Derby, for sure.”
Late-running Creator, meanwhile, was hampered by traffic woes nearing the stretch, according to the trainer.
“I thought Creator lost all chance at the quarter pole. Those horses came together real hard,” Asmussen said.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
