Preakness 2016 Weather: Latest Race-Day Forecast for Pimlico

Wet weather and cool temperatures are in the latest forecast for the 2016 Preakness, which could make Nyquist's quest for the Triple Crown that much more difficult if some of the tougher horses are ready to prove themselves elite mudders at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

According to Weather.com, rain is likely to sprinkle the 21215 zip code mid-morning, with about a 50 percent chance of more rain and 78 percent humidity expected at 6 p.m. ET, just before post time. 

The Baltimore Sun's Scott Dance offered more specifics on the amount of rain expected for the event: "Half an inch to three quarters of an inch of rain is expected in Baltimore, while heavier amounts of greater than an inch are forecast to the southeast."

At the very least, spectators can expect cool, cloudy conditions at Pimlico. The 141st running for the Black-Eyed Susans has a clear favorite in Nyquist, who won the 2016 Kentucky Derby by staying close to the front of the pack before making a brilliant break for the finish with roughly a quarter-mile to go.

Nyquist is undefeated in eight career races, and the late-breaking power could come in handy if the track slows everything down in the early stages. Jockey Mario Gutierrez believes Nyquist has special qualities that make him suited for a special run.

“He’s a fighter,” Gutierrez said, per USA Today's Tim Sullivan. “I believe he has the heart of a champion. He’ll never back down from a fight. Anybody that goes at him, he’ll happily accept the challenge. He’s a horse that acts like he’s been running for a long time. That’s very special for a three-year-old.”

According to Odds Shark, Exaggerator has 15-4 odds to win the Preakness, with only Nyquist besting him at 4-7 odds.

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Exaggerator also proved to be a strong late finisher, maneuvering from the back of the pack on the final stretch to finish second at Churchill Downs. Exaggerator doesn't have the unimpeachable record of Nyquist, but he hasn't finished any worse than fifth place in 10 career races.

The only other horse making the short turnaround from the Kentucky Derby is Lani, who finished ninth in Louisville and isn't expected to make much noise at the Preakness, even in a smaller field.

The Courier-Journal's Jonathan Lintner provided some info on the new shooters that could derail Nyquist's bid for immortality: 

"

Two talented new shooters – horses Nyquist didn’t beat in the Derby – should also press the pace. Eye-catching allowance winner Stradivari is lightly raced but highly respected. Bob Baffert also conditions Collected, a multiple graded stakes winner that could give the Hall of Famer a record-tying seventh Preakness victory.

Lani, the Japanese-trained son of Tapit that ran ninth in the Derby, sizes up as another Preakness closer from the No. 6 post position. So, too, does fellowship, a recent transfer to trainer Mark Casse’s barn that narrowly missed making the field at Churchill Downs.

"

With a potentially muddy track mucking up the works at Pimlico, the new shooters, rather than the Derby runners, could end up being more of a threat to Nyquist. A sloppy track could make it difficult for the late-breaking horses to find that extra gear on the final stretch. 

Nyquist at least has history on his side. The Kentucky Derby winner has gone on to win 10 of the last 19 Preakness Stakes.

Nyquist doesn't have quite the same aura that American Pharoah did last year, but the record so far is difficult to argue with. The eight wins aren't at all misleading, with five of them counting as Grade I races. 

The race conditions could prove challenging, but this is still very much Nyquist's race to lose on Saturday.