A light mist was falling over Pimlico Race Course when the coyote finally caught the roadrunner, as Exaggerator utilized the wet-track skills he flashed in the Santa Anita Derby in April.
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At the 3/4-mile mark, Exaggerator started to make his move along the rail.
Derby victor Nyquist led out of the gate, but fell behind on a sloppy track at Pimlico, in mud and heavy rain.
And then there was the Preakness early pace of 22.38 and 46.56 seconds, over a surface that was anything but fast from a standpoint of time. Cherry Wine paid $9.80 and $4.20, and Nyquist $2.20 to show. He again blamed himself rather than jockey Mario Gutierrez for the aggressive start that seemed to wear Nyquist out in the Preakness.
Some people might go so far as to say a jockey can’t win you a race but they sure could lose it.
Gutierrez gave no excuses for his ride aboard Nyquist.
“I hope it’s not only because of the muddy track”, the trainer said after his mount came back strong just two weeks after the Derby. There was nothing we could do. We thought we had the best horse and wanted to ride him like the best horse and not try to get too cute and get flawless positioning.
Nyquist will van to NY on Monday while Exaggerator will go no earlier than Wednesday, and more likely on Sunday.
“The most important thing is this horse’s ability to recover from his efforts”, Keith Desormeaux said.
Kent Desormeaux, a Hall of Fame jockey, also had plenty to be thankful for. The Cajun jockey has found his share of trouble on and off the track, but Saturday his experience and faith in his colt shined through.
This is the first time Exaggerator, who was runner up in this year’s Kentucky Derby, has beaten Nyquist in four match-ups.
It’s not about the rivalry for Keith Desormeaux so much as, after 30 years grinding away in this business, the trainer has reached horse racing’s highest level.
“These turns, you want to paint the fence”, he said. Officials said he broke his right collarbone.
“It wasn’t like we felt we could grind him down”, Keith said. The horse has trained phenomenally.
“I’m in shock right now”, said Desormeaux, who has won seven Triple Crown races.
In other words, speed kills. Although confident that his mount would up his record to 1-for-5 against his arch-nemesis, Desormeaux wasn’t about to take any chances.
O’Neill said he’d take the heat for his horse charging ahead early. He’s going to wear the same shoes he’s got on.
Cherry Wine and Lani, fifth in the Preakness, are expected to contest the Belmont, while back from the Derby are Suddenbreakingnews, Destin, Brody’s Cause and Mo Tom. “It was a good trip”.
“I looked at him and he looked at me, and I got a fist pump”, Kent said.
The turning point came as the rivals neared the final eighth mile. “But brotherly love? I don’t know, is it different than any other kind of love?” I will take this defeat like a champ… “We are so lucky to be a part of you”.
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The Test of a Champion is next in Long Island on June 11 for this 3-year-old crop that has provided some great racing moments over the past few months. His battles with alcohol have been well documented, and he had not won a Triple Crown event since the 2009 Belmont.
