But the tables were turned in the second leg of the Triple Crown on a sloppy track, and Exaggerator won by 3½ lengths with Cherry Wine second, a nose ahead of Nyquist.
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The last horse to win the Preakness and Belmont, but lose the Kentucky Derby, was Point Given in 2001. Winning time for the race was 1:58.31.
“I hope it’s not only because of the muddy track”, said trainer Keith Desormeaux, Kent’s older brother, who referred to the track conditions by the rail as “a quagmire” by Saturday evening.
Race favorite Nyquist finished third, narrowly behind Cherry Wine, in the second leg of US thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown series for 3-year-olds after a day of rain at Pimlico Race Course. American Pharoah became the first to sweep the Derby, Preakness and Belmont since Affirmed in 1978, a year after Seattle Slew won it.
Nyquist trainer George O’Neill was gracious in defeat.
It may have been on a surface Exaggerator favors, but, given how the race was run, it’s likely he was going to win under any circumstance.
“The foolish use of muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, and other medications must end now”, said PETA, calling on the owners to release veterinary records and a list of medications that the horses were given in the weeks leading to the races. “I’m in shock right now”, Kent said after Exaggerator lived up to his potential. “But we came together these last few years in California”. If Nyquist can control the race his way, without overusing it, he can stick around and remain a player.
“(Jockey Mario Gutierrez) said when (Nyquist) felt the pressure of the horse outside of him, Nyquist just locked on, and he couldn’t get him to relax then. Finished fifth in Kentucky Derby.
In an Eerie coincidence, the fourth race was won by Truly Together, trained by Michael Matz, who was Barbaro’s trainer.
2005: After winning the Kentucky Derby as a 50-1 long shot, Giacomo finished third in the Preakness.
Nyquist had a little trouble loading into the gate, but broke like a champion, running right out in front to take the early lead with Exaggerator at one point falling almost 13 lengths behind.
“I really didn’t get a chance to talk to Mario”, O’Neill said. He kept Exaggerator under control in the second position groove, not right at rail, until the stretch and then maneuvered the colt wide to chase down Nyquist.
Up in the stands, Keith Desormeaux admitted that he was initially anxious when Kent chose an early path along the rail that other riders ignored, but Kent – whose first taste of the success that brought him to the Hall of Fame began in Maryland – said his familiarity with the track was beneficial.
“You never like to see that happen”, Maryland Jockey Club President Sal Sinatra said.
“I didn’t think we could persuade beat to be completely forthright with you”. I do certainly appreciate the sporting nature of it and hopefully these two horses will continue their rivalry the rest of the year. “They tell me the numbers are going to be strong”.
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“An opportunity to invest in a proven stallion is rare, so we are honored by Barbara’s trust in us to stand Curlin”, Hill “n” Dale owner John Sikura said. American Pharoah was special, but other examples of front-running Belmont Stakes wins exist such as 38-1 Da’ Tara in 2008. The son of Curlin, himself a Preakness victor (2007), is a lover of wet racetracks.
