The third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby will not race in the 141st Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. Steve Asmussen, trainer of Gun Runner, told Blood-Horse on Tuesday that they would “pass on the Preakness” and put together a strong 3-year-old schedule.
Preakness 2016: Gun Runner will skip the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans
Nyquist’s competition for the second jewel of the Triple Crown just got a little easier.
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“He’s been in tremendous physical condition going into the Derby and coming out of it, and we expect for him to continue to physically develop,” Asmussen said.
That leaves heavy Preakness favorite Nyquist (whose odds are at 5-7 on Bovada ahead of the official morning line odds being set Wednesday) with mainly Exaggerator to contend with. Exaggerator closed well down the stretch at Churchill Downs nearly two weeks ago, but failed to catch trainer Doug O’Neill’s colt.
Gun Runner had won twice as a 3-year-old this year, taking the Grade II Louisiana Derby and Grade II Risen Star Stakes. He also won twice as a 2-year-old, giving him four wins in six starts. The only other defeat came at the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club in November. He finished fourth there.
The Preakness field will not be set until Wednesday morning, but it appears as if the only other Derby horse Nyquist will face will be Lani, as Nyquist attempts to win the second jewel of the Triple Crown. The field is capped at 14 with 11 currently pending for the 1-3/16 mile, $1.5 million Preakness.
The post position draw will be held 5 p.m. Wednesday.
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