Exaggerator Rules The Slop, Takes Preakness Over Rival Nyquist

Exaggerator this afternoon became the first Kentucky Derby runner-up since 1993 to win the Preakness, angled out wide from the rail on the final turn to chase down Nyquist, the Derby winner and heavy favorite.

It was a fine race, and unlike a couple of other races earlier in the day, it didn’t kill any horses or send any jockeys to the hospital. Exaggerator paid $7.20 to win. Cherry Wine placed, just ahead of Nyquist.

Kent Desormeaux, Exaggerator’s jockey, hung back from the leaders who sped out in the mud, Nyquist included. While they swung wide, Desormeaux clung to the inside through three turns, and banked outside for the home stretch. Afterwards he told a reporter on horseback that he had “a dream ride.”

Nyquist could’ve become the first undefeated Triple Crown winner since Seattle Slew in 1977 had he won today and in the Belmont, in June. It took Exaggerator five tries to knock off Nyquist, but he did so finally, and looked filthy good doing it.