Nyquist ready for Preakness test

Nyquist ready for Preakness test

Despite having 19 opponents in the Kentucky Derby, Nyquist didn’t have to deal with much early speed, so he tracked Danzing Candy’s fast pace, surged to the lead in early stretch and rolled to his eighth win in as many starts.

Nyquist has just 10 opponents in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, but the scenario has changed dramatically:

Six of the 10 possess front-running speed.

“I think the biggest thing is for Nyquist to break clean, kind of get into his stride, and if two or three new Danzing Candy type of speed horses go, we have the luxury of settling in third or fourth,” trainer Doug O’Neill said.

If they don’t go, you know, we can take it to them.

[...] kind of like in every sport, speed kills, and I think we’ve got the gate speed to put ourselves in a position where we can get the result we want.

In seven of Nyquist’s victories, he either led throughout or came from second place.

[...] it’s that other performance — his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile — that gives his supporters confidence for the Preakness.

Nyquist broke from the No. 12 post in the 14-horse Juvenile field, was bumped at the start and was eighth while very wide around the first turn.

[...] not only does he have some versatility in his arsenal, his ability to rally is unequaled by any other 3-year-old thoroughbred.

Even after archrival Exaggerator closed a ton of ground in the Kentucky Derby and was gaining on Nyquist at the end, he never got past in the gallop-out.

O’Neill won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with I’ll Have Another in 2012 (he missed the Belmont Stakes because of injury) and also has trained seven-time Grade 1 winner Lava Man and two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents.

“I feel like I’m doing something wrong, but I never thought I’d ever say it and I ever would’ve been blessed to be around a horse as good as Lava Man,” O’Neill said.

[...] Nyquist is so unique and he gives off a vibe like no other, and then he follows up that confident vibe with just amazing performances in the afternoons consistently.

[...] he’s the best horse I’ve ever been blessed to be around.

Only Exaggerator and ninth-place finisher Lani join Nyquist in the Preakness after running in the Derby.

Twenty-eight of the past 32 Preakness winners ran in the Kentucky Derby, and the same horse has won both races in 10 of the past 19 years.

Two-time Grade 3 winner Collected, fast-closing Cherry Wine and 14½-length allowance winner Stradivari appear to be the best of the eight Preakness horses that didn’t run in the Kentucky Derby.

Rain is forecast for Saturday in the Baltimore area, but Nyquist and Exaggerator have won on wet tracks.

Larry Stumes is a freelance writer.

Larry Stumes’ Preakness Stakes handicap

13/16 miles, 3-year-olds, 126 pounds, purse $1.5 million, post time 3:45 p.m. (PDT)

PP

Jockey

Odds

Collected

Fast works for big class test

Desormeaux

Finished fastest in Derby

Late runner handles slop

Uncle Lino

Must be sent from this post

Fellowship

Maiden competitive in stakes

Take

Abiding Star

Wired 5 in row up the ladder

Figures are sorely lacking