“The Kentucky Derby over the weekend was StubHub’s highest-selling one yet and we expect similar demand for the Preakness, as sales are already up compared to the same time past year”.
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They took I’ll Have Another to wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2012, but their chance at a Triple Crown was stopped when O’Neill scratched the horse with a tendon injury the morning before the Belmont Stakes.
As for the situation between Kent and Keith Desormeaux the trainer/jockey duo for Exaggerator and their strained relationship due to alleged substance abuse Mike said “it’s a family relationship, I’m the oldest of nine kids, sometimes everything doesn’t go along smoothly…when they get on the race track and when Kent isn’t impaired he is one heck of a rider”.
Nyquist ran the mile-and-a-quarter in a solid 2:01.31, earning a 103 Beyer Speed Figure, just two points off American Pharoah past year. “Monday I leave for my new digs #Nyquist @PreaknessStakes”. We would have fell off of him before we got in the gate.’ Mario has got ice in his veins. The Hall of Fame trainer was particularly pleased with Gun Runner’s Derby effort, which briefly had him thinking victory was within grasp.
He came flying down the final stretch, and if the race had perhaps been an extra furlong more, he may have caught Nyquist.
The Kentucky Derby victor is usually kept in highly regarded Stall 40 of the Preakness Barn, home of several Triple Crown champions, including Secretariat and Seattle Slew.
Shirreffs knows a thing or two about racing, having been Zenyatta’s trainer through her spectacular career.
After an impressive finish in the Derby where he finished second and gave Nyquist a slight run for his money, Exaggerator is an obvious contender to watch heading into the Preakness.
The NHL’s Jamey Horan said the trophy has made visits to Churchill before and that this year was a natural fit since Nyquist, owned by Reddam Racing, is named for Swedish ice hockey player Gustav Nyquist, a starting right wing for the Detroit Red Wings.
Operators of online horse racing site TVG admitted Sunday they botched the Kentucky Derby and said “human error” led to a thousands of bettors shut out from the sport’s biggest betting day of the year. “The horses are not machines, so it will be a great race”.
That brings to 13 the number of horses under consideration for the Preakness, with the likely field shaping up as smaller.
“Great horses you can train 100 different ways, and they win despite you”, he said.
Other potential entrants include Adventist, third in the Wood Memorial; Uncle Lino, third in the Santa Anita Derby and Fellowship, third in the Florida Derby.
“I would have thought he was sick of us by now”, Reddam said of Exaggerator’s trainer. He has enough early speed to go to the front if that’s what Gutierrez wants him to do, but he’s cooperative enough to relax if the pace is too quick. O’Neill asked his mother, Dixie Lee, when the first questions about a possible Triple Crown bid came his way Saturday night. This marks a four-year low in rating for the race. “I don’t think we’re going to push it as much as a few others”.
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Dennis O’Neill, the trainer’s brother, found Nyquist for Reddam at a purchase price of $400,000. “I think that’s a real advantage out there”.
