Nyquist jogs twice around in return to track

Edited press release from Keeneland

Undefeated Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Nyquist made his first appearance on the main track at Keeneland since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last October on Saturday morning, jogging twice around with exercise rider Jonny Garcia up.

With a few snow flurries flying at 7:30 a.m., Nyquist left Barn 24 in company with a pony with assistant trainer Jack Sisterson aboard. The tandem backtracked in front of the Grandstand and passing the sixteenth pole went into a jog.

“(Trainer) Doug (O’Neill) said to jog him around once and see how he feels and if Jonny feels he needs to go two, go two,” Sisterson said. “Jonny said we had better go around again because he was feeling so good.”

Owned by Reddam Racing, Nyquist ran his unbeaten streak to seven with a victory in last Saturday’s Florida Derby (G1). Nyquist arrived at Keeneland Sunday and was expected to go to the track Thursday, but that plan was scrubbed because of a slightly elevated white blood cell count.

“He was happy to get out on the track and do something,” Sisterson said. “He wanted to do more but then he relaxed great out there.”

Photo courtesy Keeneland/Coady Photography.