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- Looks to stay unbeaten in his 9th race
- Nyquist winning the Triple Crown would pay out $20 for every $10 bet
- O’Neill happy with how Nyquist has been handling the Pimlico track surface
- Preakness Stakes field could feature between 14 and 15 horses
Nyquist was the early 4-5 odds favorite to win the 2016 Preakness Stakes as anybody would have guessed following his impressive victory at Churchill Downs just days ago. The payout would be $4 for every $5 bet (with the $5 wager refunded only if he is victorious).
Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Nyquist ran 1 ¼ miles in 2:01.31 and became only the eighth unbeaten winner in the race's 142-year history. Big Brown was the last horse to accomplish this feat back in 2008. Winning the Triple Crown, which would include a final victory at the Belmont Stakes should he take the victory at Pimlico, would result in a US$20 payout for every US$10 bet.
"He's a special horse,” Trainer Doug O'Neill said. "It would be nice if they were all like that."
O'Neill said he was happy with how Nyquist was handling the Pimlico surface since shipping in the Monday after the Derby.
"He's very sure-footed," ONeill said. "He's won five Grade 1's over five different tracks."
Nyquist probably would have much shorter odds if not for the likelihood of a 14 to 15 horse field, quite larger than in some years past. The Preakness Stakes will also feature a track more ideal for the closers. With a shorter distance, the track could favor Exaggerator, who just narrowly came in second at the Kentucky Derby behind Nyquist.
That being said, he’s now been beaten by Nyquist four times.
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
