By Steve Sherack
BALTIMORE, Md. – With owners Paul and Zillah Reddam and trainer Doug O'Neill looking on from the press box porch, there were some brief anxious moments when their unbeaten GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist (Uncle Mo) went out for his final gallop at Pimlico following the break Thursday morning.
The 3-5 morning-line favorite for the GI Preakness S. stood calmly with the stable pony and assistant trainer Jack Sisterson by the outer rail near the quarter pole while a loose horse took off. Pimlico apparently doesn't use a siren for situations like this, but lights did flash throughout the oval along the rail to warn riders of the dilemma at hand. Thanks to the heady work of an outrider, the horse was quickly apprehended near the wire before a packed house at Old Hilltop, including several enthusiastic families with young children.
With the sun attempting to find its way out through the clouds on another cool morning, Nyquist was joined on the track by Collected (City Zip) and 'TDN Rising Star' Cherry Wine (Paddy O'Prado) at around 8:45 a.m.
For Nyquist, it was business as usual after the brief scare, galloping another strong 1 1/4 miles ahead of the big one Saturday with a drone from high above recording his every move.
Collected and Cherry Wine were right behind Nyquist, getting a good rise from the crowd of fans pointing out their yellow Preakness saddle towels as they came down the stretch in succession.
The handsome gray Cherry Wine, a rallying third in the GI Blue Grass S., got his first look at the track after arriving from Kentucky Wednesday afternoon and also schooled in gate before his 1 1/2 miles of galloping.
Baffert watched with a large group of media while standing on the track near the gap as his GIII Lexington S. hero Collected went about his activities.
The area by the stakes barn was by far the most crowded it has been all week when the temperamental Derby ninth Lani (Tapit), fully equipped with black ear muffs and burgundy travel boots, got off the van from his trip down the Turnpike from New York just before 9 a.m. while Nyquist got cleaned up before an adoring large audience. Lani will be housed in an isolation portion of Barn B.
Earlier in the morning, Fellowship (Awesome of Course) and Uncle Lino (Uncle Mo) were both early risers as the first two Preakness runners to head out for training.
The maiden Laoban (Uncle Mo) received more than his share of attention during his trip out at 7:40 a.m. as well, which also included a visit to the starting gate.
Derby runner-up Exaggerator (Curlin) walked the shedrow for 30 minutes, a common routine for Keith Desormeaux's operation on a Thursday.
The streaking Abiding Star (Uncle Mo), Federico Tesio S. hero via DQ Awesome Speed (Awesome Again) and 'TDN Rising Star' Stradivari (Medaglia d'Oro) were the final three runners to make it on the grounds Thursday with the big day right around corner.
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