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PREAKNESS

Nyquist ‘a total pro’ in Preakness preparations

Jonathan Lintner
@JonathanLintner
Nyquist schools in the paddock Monday at Pimlico.

Though all but two or three of Nyquist’s Preakness Stakes rivals will enter as so-called new shooters – horses the champion hasn't beaten before – trainer Doug O’Neill remains “very optimistic that he’s going to run a big race” regardless of the competition.

O’Neill’s latest affirmation came Monday when Nyquist successfully schooled in the paddock and gate at Pimlico, where this weekend he'll aim for the ninth straight victory to open his career.

“He’s just settled in here, looks great, good energy,” O’Neill said. “He’s just a total pro.”

Since before rolling to a 1 ¼-length score in the Kentucky Derby, the Uncle Mo colt has displayed why his trainer compares him to a top-flight human athlete, one that’s all business even outside of competition.

Nyquist is as far as it gets from high-strung. He keeps his cool. And similar to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, he doesn’t mind crowds.

“He’s got a lot of energy, and you see it in the afternoon when he competes,” O’Neill said. “But he conserves his energy so well in the paddock and around the barn area here. He sleeps a lot in the stall and just has got the perfect combination for a top racehorse.”

Nyquist’s five Grade I wins have each come at different tracks and in three states: California, Florida and Kentucky. Connections will look for another Saturday in Maryland, where four years ago the team of O’Neill, owner Paul Reddam and jockey Mario Gutierrez captured the Preakness with I’ll Have Another.

“Mario’s very calm,” O’Neill said, comparing him to Nyquist. “He’s got a real good mind on him, and he’s a real good finesse rider. These two get along fantastic.”

Leading up to Saturday, the champion horse will remain on a rotating schedule of jogs and gallops, with the heavier training schedule for Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesday will be biggest for what happens away from the track, where O’Neill is hoping for a post position draw outside most of the speed in this year’s field.