Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist ramped up his Preakness preparations Friday morning, galloping a mile in the drizzle at Pimlico Race Course.
"We're very happy," trainer Doug O'Neill said. "He was much more relaxed early on in his gallop, and then he finished up strong. He's cooling out super, so we're happy with how the morning went."
O'Neill was fresh off a charity bartending gig at the Mount Washington Tavern the night before. And he planned to attend the Orioles game Friday evening. He grew up a Detroit Tigers fan, so he acknowledged his rooting interest might be divided.
Nyquist, by contrast, has slumbered his evenings away. O'Neill said the security guards outside the Derby champion's stall have noted what a good sleeper he is.
He said the most reassuring thing is how little the colt has changed in recent weeks. He has maintained his appetite, his weight, his energy on the track and his calm off it in the wake of his Derby victory.
Nyquist will continue his preparations with a two-mile jog Saturday morning and then gallop again Sunday.