It’s one thing to earn the status of prohibitive Kentucky Derby out on the track, as Nyquist has dutifully done in his brief but brilliant career. This is a fast, powerful and determined colt who brings it every time he enters the gate. That’s actually the easy part. Thoroughbreds were born to run.

It’s all the time in between races that keeps trainers and owners up at night. Thoroughbreds were not bred for leisure.

Since his impressive romp in the Florida Derby on April 2nd, his 7th win in 7 starts, Nyquist has been occupying the backside of Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, KY. The trick for trainer Doug O’Neill and his team is to keep the colt happy, sound, fit and ready to fire for his toughest task yet, the 1-1/4 mile Kentucky Derby on May 7.

It can be easy to forget just how little time horses actually spend competing. The vast majority of their days are little more than a montage of minutiae. Naps, meals, hand walks, jogs, baths, with the occasional high-octane workout mixed in and a whole lot of praying to the Horse Gods to ward off hoof bruises, spiked temperatures and general bad luck.

So far, so good.

O’Neill’s assistant trainer Jack Sisterson has been at Keeneland keeping flock and recently strapped on a GoPro, offering a front row seat to the colt’s morning routine. A roaring speedball of adrenaline this is not, but it’s the reality of the waiting game.

Nyquist is slated for a work sometime this weekend, likely a 4-furlong drill. Assuming all goes well, he’ll probably get one more breeze in before taking the short van ride to Churchill Downs on Derby week. Not too fast, but not too light—it’s the fine line trainers must toe to ensure an honest effort. A delicate dance of downtime.

Tick…tick…tick…

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