Exaggerator wins Preakness, Nyquist third

(Reuters) – Exaggerator took advantage of sloppy conditions and a “dream trip” to win the 141st running of the Preakness Stakes by 3-1/2 lengths in Baltimore Saturday ending Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist’s bid for the Triple Crown.

Exaggerator hugged the rail for most of the 1-3/16 mile race before surging into the lead with an explosive burst down the stretch to win by 3-1/2 lengths and end a frustrating 0-4 record against Nyquist, who carried an 8-0 career mark into the race.

Race favourite Nyquist finished third, narrowly behind Cherry Wine, in the second leg of U.S. thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown series for 3-year-olds after a day of rain at Pimlico Race Course.

“I think Nyquist had company all around the course. They stayed really wide,” said winning jockey Kent Desormeaux. “I had a dream trip today.

“I was on the fence and they all stayed wide. These turns you want to paint the fence. We did and they didn’t.”Exaggerator finished second 1-1/4 lengths behind Nyquist in the Derby at Churchill Downs but he turned the tables in the Preakness with Hall of Fame jockey Desormeaux using his Pimlico know-how to notch a third Preakness win.