Nyquist out of Belmont Stakes with health issue
The same issue that left Nyquist in the barn for nearly a week after his April 2 Florida Derby victory will keep the colt from a rematch with Exaggerator in the June 11 Belmont Stakes. This time, connections don't have the luxury of five weeks between races to recover from a high white cell count.
Blood work returned Tuesday to trainer Doug O'Neill's camp will necessitate antibiotic treatments and prevent the Kentucky Derby winner from training up to the third leg of the Triple Crown series.
The problem surfaced Monday when Nyquist ran a fever at "102 degrees and change," O'Neill said, following his first career defeat. After setting a quick opening pace, Nyquist faded to third in Saturday's Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, where he remains stabled.
"I spoke to Doug," said Jack Sisterson, O'Neill's assistant, "and Doug wanted to do what's best for Nyquist and get him back 100 percent health-wise here at Pimlico and fly him back to California. We're not sure exactly the day we'll do that, but Nyquist will tell us when he's ready."
The last four days' events served as a reminder of the Triple Crown's difficulty and American Pharoah's greatness to have remained sound throughout last year's sweep, the first since 1978.
Owned by Paul Reddam, Nyquist has won 8 of 9 career races and has a stud deal in place with Darley in America's Kentucky-based operation to stand after his racing career. Four of those wins came in races against Exaggerator, now the clear-cut favorite in the Belmont.
Exaggerator will contend with the Derby's Nos. 5-7 finishers – Suddenbreakingnews, Destin and Brody's Cause – as well as fast-closing Preakness runner-up Cherry Wine. Curlin's son Exaggerator returned to the track at Pimlico for training Tuesday.
“We’re really pleased with him,” said Julie Clark, trainer Keith Desormeaux's assistant and girlfriend. “I was just talking to the groom and even after two races back-to-back it still doesn’t look like he’s lost any weight. … He’s doing great. It would be nice to have a little bit of a break from him sometimes, because he’s always on his toes and squealing around, but it’s good to see.”
Exaggerator ran second in the Derby and could pull off a feat similar to Afleet Alex, 2005's third-place finisher. That horse went on to win both the Preakness and Belmont, becoming the 19th to win the final two legs of the Triple Crown after falling short in the first.
Desormeaux, who assigns younger brother Kent as his jockey, won his first classic race with Exaggerator. He prepped for the Triple Crown series with a Santa Anita Derby victory much like the Preakness: off a hot pace and over a sloppy track.
WinStar Farm purchased breeding rights to Exaggerator before the Kentucky Derby.
“It’s been pretty easy with this horse,” Clark said. “Often you have a little something, they’re not eating or they seem down or there’s something to worry about. With him there hasn’t been, so it takes a lot of pressure off and you can really just enjoy it for a change. So he’s made it real easy on everyone.”
Desormeaux plans to run Exaggerator in the Aug. 27 Travers Stakes at Saratoga, a Grade I, $1.25 million race where Sisterson hinted Nyquist could meet him again.