Preakness Stakes victor Exaggerator and Kentucky Derby champ Nyquist could meet once more in the Belmont Stakes on June 11.
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Why Nyquist will not go to NY with a chance to give a struggling industry a second straight Triple Crown will be the subject of debate for at least the next three weeks if he and Exaggerator accept the opportunity to resume a rivalry that already included four races which, of course, all were won by Nyquist. Exaggerator finished second to Nyquist in the Derby. The Washington Post reports that Lael Stables also owned Barbaro, a former Kentucky Derby victor “who broke his right hind leg racing in the 2006 Preakness and died from complications from the injury in January of 2007”.
Uncle Lino, the Santa Anita-based horse for trainer Gary Sherlock, went to the lead as expected, Nyquist set up on his outside as the race developed. “Nyquist tried hard but you could see he was exhausted…”
Homeboykris, a 9-year-old underdog gelding, won the day’s first race at long odds – but collapsed shortly after leaving the winner’s circle.
Exaggerator’s elusive victory over his nemesis came after four tough losses, including a runner-up finish to Nyquist in the Derby.
“Even the great Secretariat got beat”, O’Neill said yesterday morning.
BALTIMORE (AP) – Bonded by their prowess for getting the most out of race horses, siblings Keith and Kent Desormeaux have a relationship that can best be described as professional.
It’s a bummer, of course. “What a great run”. Keith Desormeaux promised Exaggerator would be at the Belmont: “We’ll be there with bells on”.
“I can’t wait to see him and give him a big kiss and a pat on the head”, said O’Neill. He’s still a victor in our book. “I didn’t think we could get beat, to be honest with you”.
O’Neill would not confirm if Nyquist would run in the Belmont Stakes next month. “I think Mario did a wonderful job of that”.
On a cold, rainy, dreary afternoon, the wattage from the smiles of those connected to Exaggerator could have lit up the town, from the Inner Harbor to Camden Yards to Fells Point and all the way to Pimlico Race Course. “Our horse, God, he’s such an unbelievable horse”. Tragedy struck early in the day setting a somber mood at Pimlico. And on Friday at Pimlico, 10-year-old Ben’s Cat captured the Jim McKay Turf Sprint for the fifth time in six tries for Hall of Fame trainer King Leatherbury.
Racing officials said Pramedya broke her left front cannon bone. The horse was euthanized on the track.
At the 3/4-mile mark, Exaggerator started to make his move along the rail.
Homeboykris had run 62 races before Saturday, winning 13 and finishing in the top three 28 times.
Exaggerator may have had a home-track advantage. “I was on the fence and they all stayed wide”, Desormeaux said after the race.
Exaggerator’s pedigree may have helped, too. Pramedya won two of her four career starts entering Saturday. For the abbreviation I’ve had in his previous starts, I had a dream trip today. Nyquist held on for third. The next best thing to a Triple Crown attempt is a race between the two horses that won the Derby and Preakness.
I wasn’t going to get rich on it, the $2 exacta payout with the victor over Nyquist was only $10. “He just couldn’t keep pace with him”. “The horse has been training phenomenally”.
In an interview two days before the race, as Gutierrez reflected on what winning the Preakness with Nyquist might mean, he was also aware that, as in any race, winning is never guaranteed.
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“I looked at him and he looked at me, and I got a fist pump”, Kent said.
