Belmont stakes
Derby winner Nyquist out
as blood tests raise concerns
After Exaggerator finally vanquished Nyquist in the Preakness on Saturday — the fifth meeting between the horses — attention turned to a possible rematch June 11 in the Belmont Stakes.
It appears horse racing fans won't get to see that.
Nyquist suffered a setback in his recovery from the Preakness, and will sit out the Belmont, trainer Doug O'Neill confirmed in a text message Tuesday.
The Daily Racing Form first reported the news.
The blood work trainers took from the horse Monday came back with an elevated white blood cell count.
The colt was battling a 102-degree fever Monday morning.
Before the blood results, the trainers were planning on having Nyquist back on the track Thursday at Pimlico Race Course.
Both trainers, Keith Desormeaux (Exaggerator) and O'Neill (Nyquist), initially said their horses would race at Belmont Park after splitting the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
Exaggerator was already back on the track at Pimlico on Tuesday. He will return there today, Friday and Saturday, after walking Thursday.
Then, he will ship to Belmont Park on Sunday after what his trainers hope is another smooth week.
“It's been pretty easy with this horse,” assistant trainer Julie 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.”
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