GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist (Uncle Mo), who arrived at Pimlico Race Course Monday evening, had a quiet morning walking the shedrow at the Baltimore track Tuesday. The Paul Reddam colorbearer is expected to return to the track Wednesday, but is unlikely to have an official work before the May 21 GI Preakness S.
“We didn't work [2011 GI Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner] I'll Have Another, so I don't think we'll work Nyquist,” Jack Sisterson, assistant to trainer Doug O'Neill, said. “I'm just keeping him happy. There's not much we can do in two weeks. I think his record speaks for itself and we're not going to change anything from what we've done with him in the past.”
In other Preakness news, Colts Neck Stables' Awesome Speed (Awesome Again) worked six furlongs at his owner's farm in New Jersey.
“He went three-quarters in [1:13], which is pretty good out here,” trainer Alan Goldberg said of Awesome Speed's work. “He seemed to come back good and he might do an easy half-mile next week.”
Awesome Speed won a fees-paid entry into the Preakness when he was promoted to the victory in the Apr. 9 Federico Tesio S. The dark bay opened his sophomore campaign with a win in the Jan. 2 Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream and was fourth in the Feb. 27 GII Fountain of Youth S.
“We plan on running,” Goldberg said of the Preakness. “Maybe we can get a small piece. We got a free ride to get in there, so that was the plan.”
Also aiming for the Preakness, Kentucky Derby runner-up Exaggerator (Curlin) returned to the track at Churchill Downs Tuesday, galloping a mile under Peedy Landry, who reported the colt “felt great.” Exaggerator is expected to ship to Maryland Sunday.
Derby fifth-place finisher Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft) also returned to the track Tuesday, jogging 1 1/4 miles under Ramiro Gorosteita. “He had plenty of energy,” trainer Donnie Von Hemel reported.
DERBY VIEWERS TOP 15 MILLION
NBC Sports' coverage of Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby averaged 15.5 million viewers, marking the fourth straight year the race attracted at least 15 million viewers, according to an NBC release. Viewership peaked with 17.9 million viewers from 6:45-7 p.m., which matched the peak viewership from American Pharoah's Derby win a year ago.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
