Nyquist gets all clear to resume training Saturday

The drama about early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Nyquist’s elevated white blood cell count proved to be short-lived. Team O’Neill reported via Facebook Friday morning that his latest bloodwork was “perfect,” and the unbeaten champion can now take to the track at Keeneland.

Here’s the  Facebook update:

Great news on Nyquist....his blood work came back perfect. He's scheduled to jog at 7:30am tomorrow (Saturday) morning at Keeneland.

Nyquist seems pretty pleased with the results too. Thank you for all the well wishes Nyquist received.

Trainer Doug O’Neill had Nyquist’s blood checked just as routine procedure after he shipped in from Gulfstream Park Sunday. That revealed a “slightly elevated” white blood cell count, but Nyquist was otherwise acting healthy.

O’Neill decided to keep him in the barn just to be on the safe side, until the bloodwork picture cleared. Since Nyquist had just romped in the Florida Derby (G1) Saturday, he wasn’t going to do too much in his first couple of days back training anyway.

“We just wanted to give him one more day,” assistant trainer Jack Sisterson told Keeneland publicity Friday morning. “He is fine and happy. He was dragging his hot walker around the shedrow this morning.”

At this point, the delayed return to the track looks like much ado about nothing. Let’s just hope it stays that way, and Nyquist has a trouble-free preparation for the May 7 Kentucky Derby.

Photo of Nyquist from Sunday, courtesy of Keeneland/Coady Photography.