Nyquist scheduled to gallop for fans on Saturday

On Saturday, Santa Anita favorite Nyquist will work right before the races so fans can watch the Derby winner go through his paces.

Eclipse Champion and Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist will work five furlongs on the main track before the first race at Santa Anita on Gold Cup Day, Saturday, June 25,. Nyquist is expected to be on the track at 12:45 p.m.

In a statement via the track press office, Nyquist’s trainer Doug O’Neill outlined the plan for Saturday:

"It’s Gold Cup Day at Santa Anita and Paul (Reddam, owner) feels like this is a great opportunity to share Nyquist with all of our fans and to help promote the sport,” said O’Neill. “The horse is doing tremendous. He worked a half mile last Friday and the timing for this work is perfect. Mario (regular rider, Gutierrez) is going to breeze him and we’ll let him gallop out an extra eighth."

Details of Nyquist’s summer campaign have not been announced. It’s expected he will travel east, possibly for the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (Saratoga, July 30) or the $1 million Haskell Invitational (Monmouth, July 31), then on to the Travers Stakes, August 27, at Saratoga Race Course.

The rest of his races this year will point Nyquist toward running in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic November 5 at his home track, Santa Anita. As a 2-year-old, Nyquist won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, in Lexington, Kentucky. Nyquist’s sire, Uncle Mo, also won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 2010. According to Equibase, Nyquist’s total earnings are $5,119,200; Reddam purchased the horse as a 2-year-old in training for $400,000.

Gold Cup Day admission to Santa Anita starts at $5 and goes up depending upon seating choice. Children 17 and under enter free when accompanied by a parent.

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