Few people would bet on horses other than Nyquist in the Preakness Stakes, and few horses would bet on themselves either. Most of the Preakness field could be comprised of Kentucky Derby rejects, as well as others that skipped the Run of the Roses by choice. That group includes Cherry Wine and Laoban, which failed to scratch in and wounded up in the list of also-eligibles for the Derby, as well as Awesome Speed, Collected, Stradivari, and Uncle Lino. An exception is Exaggerator, whose trainer Keith Desormeaux said he would come back in the Preakness, while Gun Runner’s and Creator’s trainer Steve Asmussen said he would wait until later on before making up his mind for the Preakness, even though he didn’t sound too eager to defy horse betting odds again by facing Nyquist.
Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer of fourth-place finisher Mohaymen, said he would be pointed to the Travers this summer at Saratoga and would not run in either the Preakness or the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. Bob Baffert is not likely to press on with Mor Spirit, who finished 10th and came out of the Derby fine, according to assistant Jim Barnes. Baffert will certainly run Collected, a three-time stakes winner who most recently won the Lexington at Keeneland. Todd Pletcher said that his plans for both Destin and Outwork would be settled on after their return to New York, but like Asmussen, he did not sound as though either would be an alternative for people who bet on horses at Preakness. On the other hand, he is planning on running Stradivari, a recent Keeneland allowance winner, in the Preakness.
Awesome Speed was entitled to an automatic berth in the Preakness as a result of winning the Tesio Stakes the previous month at Laurel. As for Uncle Lino, he won the California Chrome Stakes at Los Alamitos on April 30th after finishing third behind Exaggerator in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9th. A maximum of 14 horses can run in the Preakness. Entries are taken and posts drawn May 18. After that date, horse betting fans will know on which competitors they might put their money. Nevertheless, it seems very unlikely that Nyquist’s status as favorite to win Preakness will change – and even if it did, he has already shown to people who bet on horses that it is a mistake to underestimate him.
Other horses that might be taking part in the Preakness Stakes race – whether they ran in the Kentucky Derby or not – include Suddenbreakingnews, Brody’s Cause, Creator, Lani, Fellowship, Cupid, Dazzling Gem, Abiding Star, Decorated Soldier, and Sharp Azteca.