Exaggerator wins the Preakness by passing Kentucky Derby victor Nyquist in the home stretch, dashing any hopes of Triple Crown victor this year.
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Saturday, it was Exaggerator who got a flawless ride along the rail from Kent Desormeaux as the jockey watched Nyquist tire after battling Uncle Lino for the lead, including the fastest opening quarter-mile in the race’s history at 22.38 seconds.
Trainer Keith Desormeaux and his jockey brother Kent aboard Exaggerator now turn their attention to the Belmont Stakes in three weeks after their horse overtook rival Nyquist to win the 141st Preakness Stakes. “And Exaggerator just kind of slid up the fence to the far turn where I actually got to slow him down and say ‘whenever I’m ready'”.
“Being 8-for-8, I kept thinking this horse is never going to lose”, O’Neill said.
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness have ended up with separate winners 10 of the last 20 years, though the only horse to win the Triple Crown during that stretch was American Pharoah last year.
In the immediate aftermath of the race, Keith Desormeaux said: I did what I could to get [Exaggerator] fresh and happy and strong.
Exaggerator had finished behind Nyquist at their four previous encounters, including a last start second in the Kentucky Derby. While Gutierrez was 3-0 in lifetime Triple Crown races, Desormeaux was going for his third Preakness victory over a track where the latter began his hall-of-fame career.
Saturday’s Preakness came after a record crowd of 47,956 attended Friday’s Black-Eyed Susan Day program. “Keep people interested. There’s no way it’s going to compare to American Pharoah past year, but it’s sure going to be fun for those of us immediately involved”.
“Hats off to Exaggerator and Team Desormeaux”, O’Neill said. The horse that came into Saturday undefeated in eight career races tasted defeat for the first time after Exaggerator made a charge down the home stretch.
Cherry Wine returned $9.80 $4.20, while Nyquist paid $2.20 for third place. “We can’t wait to run in that race”, Keith said. After Exaggerator canceled dreams of a second consecutive Triple Crown, the consensus was that Nyquist would return to California for a rest.
“I hope it’s not only because of the muddy track”, Desormeaux said.
Kentucky Derby victor Nyquist did not ship from Baltimore to NY to begin preparations for the Belmont Stakes as planned on Monday after he was found to have a 102 degree temperature, trainer Doug O’Neill confirmed via text message.
“I think Nyquist had company all the way around the course”, Desormeaux said after the win.
Though there appeared to be plenty of other speed horses in the Preakness, O’Neill wanted jockey Mario Gutierrez to obtain a forward position. “The Preakness is a fun race, and I feel that we have a horse that’s competitive”. “And when I pitched him out he did what he can do, he exploded”.
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“It’s going to be a step up for him”, Baffert said.
