Day at the Races: Nyquist’s work pushed back to Saturday

Friday’s figures: On-track attendance, 13,902; on-track betting, $1,181,190.20; total betting including simulcast, $8,864,780.76.

This day last year: On-track attendance, 17,065; on-track betting, $1,327,261; total betting including simulcast, $7,969,840.

Coming up: Grade I winner Twilight Eclipse tries to halt a six-race losing skid when he faces seven others in the Grade II Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes going 1  1/2 -miles on the turf Saturday. Multiple graded stakes winner Kaigun enters off a narrow win in the Grade II Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream Park on April 2 and is the 5-to-2 morning line favorite.

Final furlong

▪  Trainer Doug O’Neill opted to push plans to work undefeated champion Nyquist back to Saturday due to rain that soaked the Keeneland main track Friday morning. “I played the conservative card today,” O’Neill said. “The track was plenty safe, but there was some standing water in spots and I have seen horses react to that.” With exercise rider Jonny Garcia up, Nyquist instead had a routine day of exercise, jogging and galloping on the training track Friday. The son of Uncle Mo is slated to work in company with stablemate Ralis Saturday morning. “They will two-minute lick the first three-eighths and then five-eighths in around 1:01 and change,” O’Neill said.

▪  Wet conditions also kept Cash is King LLC’s Cathryn Sophia from her scheduled Friday work. Third in the Grade I Ashland Stakes on April 9, the Street Boss filly jogged on the main track after the renovation break Friday and is set to work Saturday after the break, after which a decision on whether or not she will start in the Kentucky Oaks will likely be made.

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 8:22 PM with the headline "Day at the Races: Nyquist’s work pushed back to Saturday."