Nyquist made it to Pimlico and will be the heavy favorite in the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (Photo credit: Maryland Jockey Club).
The undefeated Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist is going to be a very short price in the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) and could end up facing a larger field than many expected.
The Doug ‘O’Neill trainee is current listed at betting odds of 5-7 in early Preakness wagering at Bovada after earning a career top Beyer Speed Figure of 103 in his victory in the Run for the Roses.
In the latest list released by the Pimlico press office, there are 14 runners that are considered possible for the second jewel of the Triple Crown: Awesome Speed, Cherry Wine, Collected, Dazzling Gem, Exaggerator, Fellowship, Gun Runner, Lani, Laoban, Nyquist, Sharp Azteca, Stradivari, Suddenbreakingnews and Uncle Lino.
Derby runner up Exaggerator and ninth place finisher Lani are confirmed to be headed to Baltimore, while third place finisher Gun Runner and fifth place finisher Suddenbreakingnews are possible.
Exaggerator is the current second choice in early wagering at 9-2. The lowest price among the new shooters to the Triple Crown is Stradivari, who is the current third choice in the wagering at 12-1.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, the colt broke his maiden impressively in his second career start at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 5 and came off the sidelines at Keeneland on April 17 to trounce first level allowance company by 14 ½ lengths.
Gun Runner and Suddenbreakingnews are next in the betting at 14-1. Destin, Mor Spirit and Creator are each at 16-1 and exit the Kentucky Derby, but it seems doubtful any of the trio will show up at Pimlico.
Nyquist settled into his stall at Pimlico on Tuesday and is slated to gallop on Wednesday morning. There are no plans to actually work the Kentucky Derby champ.
“We didn’t work I’ll Have Another, so I don’t think we’ll work Nyquist,” assistant trainer Jack Sisterson said. “I’m just keeping him happy. There’s not much we can do in two weeks. I think his record speaks for itself and we’re not going to change anything from what we’ve done with him in the past.”
Early Betting Odds for the Preakness Stakes via Bovada:
Nyquist 5-7
Exaggerator 9-2
Stradivari 12-1
Gun Runner 14-1
Suddenbreakingnews 14-1
Destin 16-1
Mor Spirit 16-1
Creator 16-1
Collected 20-1
Outwork 20-1
Dazzling Gem 20-1
Cherry Wine 25-1
Swipe 25-1
Uncle Lino 33-1
Fellowship 33-1
Awesome Speed 33-1
Lani 33-1
Laoban 40-1
Michael Dempsey’s Preakness Day Report
Michael’s Report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for the entire Preakness Day card from historic Pimlico. Michael is a Maryland bred and raced horses at Pimlico and knows the circuit from the backstretch to the finish line.
The second jewel of the Triple Crown will be run on Saturday May 21 at Pimlico. The big day of racing has seven supporting stakes including the Sir Barton Stakes, Miss Preakness Stakes (G3), Dixie Stakes (G2), Gallorette Handicap (G3), James W. Murphy Stakes, The Very One Stakes and the Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3).
