Nearly three months after winning the Kentucky Derby, Nyquist will showcase his talents at Monmouth Park. Watch video
For the second straight summer, Monmouth Park is hosting the freshly minted Kentucky Derby winner.
Nyquist, who won the first leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May only to finish a disappointing third at the Preakness Stakes two weeks later, has been pointed to race in the $1 million Betfair.com Haskell Invitational on July 31.
The Daily Racing Form reported Monday morning that Nyquist's connections were opting for the Grade 1 race at the Jersey Shore track in favor of Grade 2 races in New York and San Diego next month.
"We're headed to New Jersey,'' Doug O'Neill, trainer of Nyquist, said, via Monmouth Park's media department. "He very much impressed us this morning with his work. Mario (Gutierrez) was aboard and he looked really solid. We're pumped up and can't wait to get to New Jersey.''
Nine other Kentucky Derby winners have won in Monmouth Park's showcase event, including American Pharoah, who won the 48th edition of the Haskell last summer in his first race after becoming the first horse to claim the Triple Crown in 37 years.
Haskell starters have won 39 Triple Crown races, nine Horse of the Year trophies and seven Breeders' Cup Classics since the first race in 1968.
"We're very grateful to Paul and Ziillah Reddam and Doug O'Neill on their decision to run Nyquist in the Haskell," Bob Kulina, president of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park, said. "The Haskell has always been the race where champions prove their greatness and the addition of Nyquist to the field will ensure that fans see another fantastic renewal of New Jersey's biggest horse race.''5 things to know about Nyquist
The reigning two-year old champion, Nyquist lived up to his favored status in the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby by winning a 20-horse field and improving to 8-for-8 in his career.
Any hope for a repeat Triple Crown winner was dashed in Baltimore, Md., as Exaggerator out-raced Nyquist and nine other horses to win the 141st running of the Preakness Stakes.
Nyquist had been scheduled to duel Exaggerator in a rubber match, but the colt was diagnosed with a high white blood cell count and scratched for the Belmont Stakes two days after the Preakness.
"He'll ship down to Del Mar and train there," O'Neill said. "We don't have specific shipping plans just yet, but we'll work that out over the next week or so."
The Haskell will mark Nyquist's 10th trip to the post and fifth this year. The colt by Uncle Mo was among 30 horses invited by Monmouth Park officials to run in their signature race last week. In addition, the two other horses who claimed a Triple Crown race this year -- Exaggerator (Preakness Stakes) and Creator (Belmont Stakes) -- were sent invites.
Tickets for the Haskell, which last year drew a record of crowd of more than 60,000, range in price from $10 to $25. To purchase reserved tickets, call 732-571-5563, visit MonmouthPark.com, or stop by the reserved seat ticket booth on the second floor of the Grandstand any live racing day.
First race Haskell Day will be 12 p.m., with the Haskell Invitational set for a live broadcast on NBC.
Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.