Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist looks to take the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown this Saturday with the 141st Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.
The Doug O’ Neill trained Nyquist will be the odds on favorite heading into Saturday’s race, however there should be plenty of drama with Derby runner up Exaggerator looking to challenge the undefeated Nyquist once again.
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Daily Selections:
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13th PIM 1 3/16m Grade I 3yo, Purse: $1,500,000. ( 6:45)/ 5:45/ 4:45/ 3:45 Exacta, 50 cent Trifecta & Daily Double (races 13-14) / 10 cent Superfecta,$1.00 Super High 5 |
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| # | Horse | ML | Comments | |
| 3 |
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3/5 | Has yet to taste defeat in eight career starts with seven of those wins coming versus graded competition. The bay is exiting the greatest win of his career when he put in an extremely impressive performance in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in which he lived up to his billing as the favorite by rallying from four lengths off the pace and finishing well late to claim the victory by 1 1/4 lengths while posting a career best 104 BRIS Speed rating. The Champion Two-Year-Old of 2015 has out shown his pedigree thus far and after easily handling the ten furlongs of the Derby, today’s 1 3/16 mile should be well within his wheel house. In addition, he has shown a great deal of versatility in his running style which should allow him to be well placed early regardless of the pace scenario. Trainer Doug O’Neil has tasted Preakness S. (G1) success before with I’LL HAVE ANOTHER in 2012 who had also captured that year’s Derby before famously being scratched prior to the Belmont S. (G1). O’Neill wins with 19% of his runners next out after winning their start prior and with 20% of his runners shipping to another circuit. He will have regular rider Mario Gutierrez (who piloted I’ll Have Another to victory in the Derby and Preakness) in the irons and he wins 18% of the route races he has a mount in. The pair have combined for a 19% win rate over the last 60 days. This tops the field in BRIS Prime Power by over eight points. | |
| 5 |
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3/1 | Looked to finally turn the tables last out on Nyquist in the Kentucky Derby (G1) after having come up on the short end of the stick in three meetings prior. It was not to be as though he rallied from 17 lengths off the pace and finished with an impressive turn of foot late he could do no better than second, beaten by 1 1/4 lengths while posting a 103 BRIS Speed rating, marking his fifth triple digit BRIS Speed rating in a row. The colt will once more be looking to turn the tables on Nyquist today as he attempts to follow in the hoof prints of his sire CURLIN who tasted defeat in the Derby, finishing third behind STREET SENSE in the 2007 edition, before going on to win the Preakness S. (G1) and then missing by only a head in the 12 furlong Belmont S. (G1). Trainer Keith Desormeaux wins 14% of the graded stakes races he has a runner in and with 13% of his runners shipping to another circuit. He will have his brother Kent Desormeaux in the irons who he has combined with for a 21% win rate over the last 60 days. He wins 21% of the route races he has a mount in. The presence of Kent Desormeaux in the irons only adds to the appeal as he has guided two different Preakness winners to victory – REAL QUIET (1998) and BIG BROWN (2008). This one possesses the best BRIS Class rating. | |
| 7 |
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10/1 | Has hit the board in five of six career starts thus far which includes four trips to the winner’s circle. The chestnut garnered his second graded win last out at Keeneland when he put in an impressive effort in the Lexington S. (G3) in which he pressed the pace early and finished well late to impressively claim the victory by four lengths. His other win came at Santa Anita in the Sham S. (G3) back in January. This one has shown the ability to both stalk and run on the lead which should allow him to be well placed early regardless of the pace scenario. Trainer Bob Baffert has claimed the victory in this event six times prior with SILVER CHARM (1997), REAL QUIET (1998), POINT GIVEN (2001), WAR EMBLEM (2002), LOOKIN AT LUCKY (2010), and just last year with AMERICAN PHAROAH who, of course, went on to become the twelfth Triple Crown winner in history. Baffert wins with 30% of his runners next out after winning their start prior and 24% of the graded stakes races he has a runner in. In addition, he wins with 31% of his runners shipping to another circuit. Javier Castellano gets the call and he has combined with the conditioner for a 60% win rate over the last 60 days. He wins 24% of the route races he has a mount in and he captured the 2006 edition of this event when he guided BERNARDINI to victory. | |
| 11 |
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8/1 | Has made only three career starts thus far but has been extremely impressive in both starts since stretching out to a route. The first of these efforts came back in December when he tackled maiden special weight competition at Gulfstream in an effort where he stalked the pace early and finished with an impressive turn of foot late to claim the victory by 11 lengths. The dark bay next returned in April when he tackled allowance competition at Keeneland in an effort where he stalked the pace early before taking command on his way to a dominating 14 length victory while posting a 101 BRIS Speed rating. Though this is a big step to take off of an allowance win, a repeat of that effort would definitely make him a player in this spot and he is capable of better in his second start off the layoff. Trainer Todd Pletcher wins with 25% of his runners making their second start off the layoff and 20% of the graded stakes races he has a runner in. In addition, he wins with 26% of his runners shipping to another circuit. John Velazquez gets the call and he has combined with the conditioner for a 28% win rate over the last 60 days. He wins 26% of the route races he has a mount in. Surprisingly, neither Pletcher nor Velazquez have a Preakness win to their credit. | |