Nyquist Breezes at Santa Anita

Reddam Racing’s undefeated Nyquist (Uncle Mo) worked five furlongs in 1:02.09 (33/68) at Santa Anita Friday in preparation for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland Oct. 31.

With regular rider Mario Gutierrez aboard, the bay sat behind stablemate and fellow juvenile Semper Fortis (Distorted Humor) leaving the 5 1/2-furlong pole, took the lead three furlongs from home while clocking splits of :24.94 and :49.68 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.70.

“I just wanted a traffic-free fresh track and I do have to thank Santa Anita so much for offering that,” said trainer Doug O’Neill, who was granted permission to work 45 minutes in advance of Friday’s first race. “I was very happy, I got him coming home the last eighth in 12 and we actually two minute licked him for three furlongs going into the work….He looked like he did it easily.

The conditioner added, “We ran over to meet Mario on him afterwards and he said that he had a ton of horse all the way around there. We really just wanted a nice, steady work before jumping on the plane to go to Kentucky and that’s exactly what we got.”

Nyquist enters the Juvenile with a perfect four-for-four record, most recently capturing the GI Del Mar Futurity Sept. 7 and GI FrontRunner S. Sept. 26. He will leave Sunday morning to join his stablemate and fellow Juvenile contender Ralis (Square Eddie) in Lexington.

O’Neill was also represented by GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf contender Sharla Rae (Afleet Alex), who worked a half-mile in :50.60 (50/62), and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies hopeful Land Over Sea (Bellamy Road), who breezed four furlongs in :51 (53/62).