Preakness 2016 Lineup: Final Field Odds and Predictions for All Entries
Las Vegas has deemed Nyquist the eventual winner of the 2016 Preakness Stakes.
It's not a shocking development given the Doug O'Neill-trained horse's epic run at the Kentucky Derby, which lit up the globe with chatter about a second Triple Crown winner in back-to-back seasons after more than 30 years without a single one.
Like the event in Kentucky, Saturday's showdown features some interesting odds and a field probably a bit deeper than most would expect.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
With the post positions set and the race ready to begin in the evening, let's take one last look at the final odds out of Las Vegas and attempt to nail down predictions for all entries.
Date: Saturday, May 21
Post Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
Preakness Entries and Odds
| 1 | Cherry Wine | Dale Romans | Corey Lanerie | 4 | 20-1 |
| 2 | Uncle Lino | Gary Sherlock | Fernando Perez | 5 | 20-1 |
| 3 | Nyquist | Doug O'Neill | Mario Gutierrez | 1 | 3-5 |
| 4 | Awesome Speed | Alan Goldberg | Jevian Toledo | 11 | 30-1 |
| 5 | Exaggerator | Keith Desormeaux | Kent Desormeaux | 2 | 3-1 |
| 6 | Lani | Mikio Matsunaga | Yutaka Take | 10 | 30-1 |
| 7 | Collected | Bob Baffert | Javier Castellano | 3 | 10-1 |
| 8 | Laoban | Eric Guillot | Florent Geroux | 7 | 30-1 |
| 9 | Abiding Star | Ned Allar | J.D. Acosta | 8 | 30-1 |
| 10 | Fellowship | Mark Casse | Jose Lezcano | 9 | 30-1 |
| 11 | Stradivari | Todd Pletcher | John Velazquez | 6 | 8-1 |
When it comes down to prediction time, there's zero sense in going against Nyquist.
Nyquist has won every single race he's suited up for, including besting favorites such as Exaggerator and Gun Runner in the Kentucky Derby. A winner in a whopping five Grade 1 events, even the argument about a quick turnaround hurting Nyquist seems more like a whisper than a shout.
It's gotten to the point where even the competition cannot help but gush about Nyquist.
"He's a really good horse. When you win eight in a row coming out of California, it's like California Chrome," said trainer Bob Baffert, according to Richard Rosenblatt of the Associated Press. "Everybody was lukewarm. Then he won the Derby. Then it's, 'oh, he's for real.'"
That's Bob Baffert, folks, the legendary trainer who had legend status even before leading American Pharoah to the Triple Crown last year.
The only real argument against Nyquist at this point is Exaggerator, but only when one combines Exaggerator's outlook with the projected weather.
According to Weather.com, Saturday's event could get sloppy in the rain, which might put Exaggerator at an advantage after a win in sloppy conditions at the Santa Anita Derby. Nyquist, on the other hand, has yet to partake in iffy conditions.
Still, Fox 1340's Candice Hare provided a different outlook:
It makes plenty of sense. Dating back to last July, Exaggerator has finished behind Nyquist four times. Counting on something like weather to alter what is a clear-cut hierarchy isn't the best use of a bettor's resources.
Keep Baffert in mind when it comes prediction time, too. His horse, Collected, isn't the most decorated. But jockey Javier Castellano is up top; he is one of the sport's best and the owner of more than 24,000 starts. Operating out of a respectable seventh post, preparation and elite guidance could have Collected on track to steal the show.
Collected also happens to have the proper lineage set to make him an upset contender Saturday, as Daily Racing Form's Jay Hovdey detailed (via ESPN.com):
"As for the pedigree, City Zip gives Collected a right to be anything. The stallion has begat Breeders' Cup winners at 10 furlongs on turf (Dayatthespa), a 2-year-old mile on grass (Catch a Glimpse), and six furlongs on dirt (Work All Week), as well as a forthright grass miler like Alert Bay.
"
Look for the three detailed to finish in a predictable order regardless of weather.
Nyquist is too good to fail, and a post position of third ensures jockey Mario Gutierrez can set a comfortable pace before turning it on late. Exaggerator has flexibility out of the fifth post, but again, the fifth time won't prove the charm. Collected will sprint to the outside and have few problems surpassing a clogged middle.
It's a cookie-cutter way for the race to go, but so was the Kentucky Derby. And that's not a bad thing, especially when it means the sport has another legitimate Triple Crown contender on its hands.
Stats and information courtesy of Preakness.com unless otherwise specified. Odds via Odds Shark.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
