Nyquist worked a sharp at Del Mar in California prior to his flight across the country to contest Sunday’s $1 million Haskell Invitational in New Jersey.

Nyquist has been on the sidelines since he suffered the first loss of his career in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 21.

Regular rider Mario Gutierrez put Nyquist through his work at Del Mar with a stablemate, clocking splits of 25.8, 50.4 and a final quarter in 24.90 on the main track.

"I'm very happy with it," O'Neill said. "He broke off nice and relaxed and settled nicely.

“He did everything we wanted and did it the right way."

Another notable worker at Del Mar was champion mare Beholder in her last drill in preparation for her next start in the G1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes.

The Spendthrift Farm owned mare breezed through five furlongs in a brilliant 59.2 under champion jockey Gary Stevens.

"It was a little quicker than we'd planned, but she does that often. I think we're in pretty good shape,” said trainer Richard Mandella.

Beholder has won her last eight starts, the latest on June 4 in the G1 Vanity Mile.

In another development Stonestreet Stables' homebred filly Rachel's Valentina, the G1-winning daughter of former Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, has been retired.

Stonestreet announced that the 3YO filly by Bernardini "will now retire from racing, sound and injury-free."

Rachel's Valentina, trained by Todd Pletcher, won her debut at Saratoga last summer and followed up with a victory in the G1 Spinaway Stakes at the New York track.

She then finished second in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies behind champion filly Songbird, who remains undefeated in nine starts.

This year Rachel's Valentina had three G1 starts for a second in the G1 Ashland Stakes, sixth in the Kentucky Oaks and fifth in the Mother Goose Stakes.

Her dam Rachel Alexandra will be inducted into the US Racing Hall of Fame in August.