Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Sports wagering:

Local bettors torn between Nyquist and Exaggerator in Preakness Stakes

Favorites will face challenge from trainers Todd Pletcher, Bob Baffert

Nyquist vs. Exaggerator

The Associated Press

Jockey Mario Gutierrez rides Nyquist, center, to victory ahead of Exaggerator, front left, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, in the 142nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 7, 2016, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The Desormeaux brothers, Exaggerator’s trainer and jockey, still think they can beat Nyquist. They’ll get their chance Saturday in the Preakness Stakes.

The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t the only ones sweeping opponents to the delight of race and sports book crowds in Las Vegas.

Powerhouse horse Nyquist is also a perfect 4-for-4 against his own rival, shutting out Exaggerator in every race they’ve entered alongside. The two horses have finished first and second in their last two meetings, including in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago.

Unlike a series in the NBA Playoffs, the defeated will get a fifth chance. To further separate himself from those ousted by LeBron James and Co., Exaggerator is actually attracting betting action in the gambling capital of the world.

The dark bay-colored colt has drawn 34 percent of the win tickets placed at William Hill sports books ahead of this afternoon’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. That’s more than any of the other 10 horses in the field, though Nyquist is receiving Cleveland levels of money with 72 percent of the total dollars wagered.

The Doug O’Neill-trained colt is looking to become the fourth horse in the last five years to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown. At 3-to-5 on the morning line, Nyquist ties California Chrome from two years ago as the shortest favorite in the span.

Exaggerator is the second choice at 3-to-1, but the gap might not be as wide as it appears. A William Hill matchup proposition wager offers Nyquist at minus-165 (risking $1.60 to win $1) to finish better than Exaggerator, who comes back at plus-130 (risking $1 to win $1.30).

The line implies only a 60 percent chance that Nyquist defeats Exaggerator after adjusting for the house's hold. They’re the only two Kentucky Derby finishers running in the Preakness aside from Japanese-trained Lani, who finished ninth at Churchill Downs.

That doesn’t mean the Preakness is light on star power. The top two trainers in the world, Todd Pletcher and Bob Baffert, each have entries for the first time in five years.

Pletcher’s Stradivari is right behind Nyquist and Exaggerator at 8-to-1 with Baffert’s Collected the next listed at 10-to-1. They’re two relatively inexperienced but talented horses with wins in six of nine combined starts.

They’ll likely make for the most popular matchup bet besides Nyquist vs. Exaggerator, with William Hill posting Stradivari at minus-130 (risking $1.30 to win $1) over Collected, who comes back at Even money. Both are known for speed out of the gate and could challenge for the early lead to put pressure on their more established opponents.

For the Cavaliers and Nyquist, a few considerable hurdles remain before securing the ultimate prize.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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