LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist heads to Baltimore on Monday to prepare for the Preakness Stakes, where the undefeated colt could face up to 13 rivals including nine new shooters seeking to derail his Triple Crown bid.
Nyquist had been walked, bathed and returned to his stall at Churchill Downs by 6 a.m. on Sunday, less than 12 hours after he won the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/4 lengths and improved his record to 8-0. Trainer Doug O’Neill had already gone back to Southern California for a few days before returning east to rejoin his bay colt at Pimlico.
O’Neill told a track official that Nyquist was “doing great” and “looking bright-eyed” the morning after. The colt is the first unbeaten Kentucky Derby winner with eight victories since Majestic Prince in 1969.
He will put that record on the line in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes on May 21 against a mix of old and new rivals. The field is limited to 14 horses.
Kentucky Derby runner-up Exaggerator, who has lost all four meetings with Nyquist, and ninth-place finisher Lani, who was beaten 10 3/4 lengths, are expected to return in the Preakness Stakes. Also possible are third-place finisher Gun Runner, who was beaten by 4 1/2 lengths, and Suddenbreakingnews, who was fifth.
The newcomers are Laoban and Cherry Wine, who were both entered in the Kentucky Derby but didn’t get in the race; Lexington Stakes winner Collected, trained by Bob Baffert; Federico Tesio winner Awesome Speed; Stradivari, trained by Todd Pletcher; and California Chrome Stakes winner Uncle Lino.
Also under consideration are Pat Day Mile winner Sharp Azteca; Wood Memorial third-place finisher Adventist; and Florida Derby third-place finisher Fellowship.
Keith Desormeaux, who trains Exaggerator, said he would like a rematch in the Preakness Stakes.
“He was the closest threat,” said J. Paul Reddam, who owns Nyquist. “If I were him, I would want a rematch too. The horses are not machines, so it will be a great race.”
Reddam, O’Neill and jockey Mario Gutierrez enjoyed their second Kentucky Derby victory, having won in 2012 with I’ll Have Another.
“There was no wild, drunken party,” said Steve Rothblum, manager for Reddam Racing. “With a horse this good, we wanted to treat it with respect and the reverence that we owe the horse.”
I’ll Have Another also won the Preakness Stakes that year but was retired on the eve of the Belmont Stakes with a leg injury.
Nyquist is following a schedule similar to I’ll Have Another, who also spent the two weeks leading up to the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Nyquist went to Louisville a week before the Kentucky Derby after training at Keeneland in nearby Lexington.
“This year we are a lot more mature,” O’Neill said. “The people that were surrounding Nyquist are a lot more mature. It felt really good to be the [Kentucky Derby] favorite. I felt it was a real honor. Part of me was, ’God, I want to represent Nyquist in the proper way.’ I think the whole crew did a pretty good job, so it felt good being the favorite.”
Nyquist is expected to have a light training schedule between now and the Preakness Stakes.
“He’s way too fit already,” said Leandro Mora, O’Neill’s chief assistant. “I don’t think we’re going to push it as much as a few others. We found what he likes to do.”
Five of Nyquist’s eight wins have come in prestigious Grade 1 races. His latest victory boosted his earnings to $4,954,200, which includes a $1 million bonus for winning the Florida Derby in his previous start.
The colt is the third consecutive Southern California-based horse to win the Kentucky Derby and the fourth in five years. I’ll Have Another started the run. Nyquist was also the fourth consecutive wagering favorite to win.
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