(Reuters) – The top two finishers at the Kentucky Derby are on track for a rematch at the Preakness Stakes after pulling up well yesterday morning, according to connections of both horses.
Winner Nyquist could not be doing better, his trainer Doug O’Neill said, while second-placed Exaggerator was also in fine fettle, groom Vic Bargac reported.
“He’s doing great,” O’Neill said of Nyquist after checking up on the unbeaten colt before dawn. “He had his head out over the webbing, looking bright eyed.”
Bargac, meanwhile, said of Exaggerator: “He’s good. He ate it all last night and he liked his breakfast today, too. He’s doing very well.”
O’Neill said that Nyquist, now 8-0 in his career, would head to Maryland today for the next step in the Triple Crown, the May 21 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore.
Exaggerator’s trainer Keith Desormeaux says he was looking forward to having another crack at Nyquist at the Preakness.
Nyquist recorded a relatively comfortable victory by 1-1/4 lengths at Churchill Downs, but Exaggerator closed strongly near the end.
