Horse Racing: Breaking Stories and all the Latest from Yahoo Sports

Here is the latest Horse Racing News from Yahoo Sports.

Ailing Nyquist to miss Belmont Stakes (Reuters)

(Reuters) – Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist will miss next month’s Belmont Stakes, the final leg of U.S. thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown series for 3-year-olds, because of a high white cell count, his trainers said on Tuesday. Nyquist, whose bid for the Triple Crown ended when he finished third in the Preakness States on Saturday after starting as race favorite, succumbed to a fever on Monday and has since been recovering at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. “He’s out because of sickness,” Nyquist trainer Doug O’Neill told reporters after consulting with his assistant Jack Sisterson.

No exaggeration, NBC Preakness ratings up over last year (The Associated Press)
Exaggerator’s victory over Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist in the Preakness was watched on NBC by an average of more than 9.4 million people, a 6 percent increase over American Pharoah’s victory last year in the second leg of the Triple Crown. The figures were released Tuesday by NBC, based on data from The Nielsen Company. It’s the third time in four years that NBC’s Preakness audience topped 9 million viewers.

Derby winner Nyquist won’t run in Belmont (The Associated Press)

The trainer of Nyquist says the Kentucky Derby winner is sick and won’t run in the Belmont Stakes on June 11. Nyquist’s bid for a chance at the Triple Crown ended when he finished third behind Exaggerator in the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday. O’Neill’s assistant Jack Sisterson said from Baltimore that the colt’s blood work came back and showed an elevated white blood cell count.

Derby winner Nyquist’s trip to Belmont delayed by fever (The Associated Press)

The assistant trainer for Nyquist says the Kentucky Derby winner’s trip to Belmont Park has been delayed because the colt developed a ”slightly elevated temperature.”

Second Summer wins Californian by a length at Santa Anita (The Associated Press)
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Second Summer won the $200,000 Californian Stakes by a length Sunday at Santa Anita.

Full Salute wins 4-horse battle to win Monmouth Park feature (The Associated Press)
OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) — Full Salute won a four-horse battle in the deep stretch in the $42,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park on Sunday, beating El Grande Rojo by a nose.

Now Power captures Belmont Park feature by 2 1/2 lengths (The Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — Now Power took command shortly after the start on her way to a 2 1/2-length victory Sunday in the $77,000 allowance feature for fillies and mares on the turf at Belmont Park.

Preakness win behind them, Desormeauxs prepare for Belmont (The Canadian Press)

Bonded by their prowess for getting the most out of race horses, siblings Keith and Kent Desormeaux have a relationship that can best be described as professional. Standing outside the Preakness Stakes Barn at Pimlico Race Course on another rainy day in Baltimore, 49-year-old Keith Desormeaux explained how he and his younger brother ultimately formed a winning combination in a Triple Crown race.

Preakness win behind them, Desormeauxs prepare for Belmont (The Associated Press)

Trainer Bob Baffert wins 2 stakes on Preakness undercard (The Associated Press)

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won a pair of 3-year-old stakes on the Preakness undercard Saturday at rainy and foggy Pimlico. American Freedom earned a gutty victory in the Sir Barton, and Justin Squared remained unbeaten in the Chick Lang. American Freedom ran hard every step, pressing the early pace set by Fearless Dragon.

Horse racing: Exaggerator wins Preakness, Nyquist third (Reuters)

(Reuters) – Exaggerator took advantage of sloppy conditions and a “dream trip” to win the 141st running of the Preakness Stakes by 3-1/2 lengths in Baltimore on Saturday, ending Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist’s bid for the Triple Crown. Exaggerator hugged the rail for most of the 1-3/16 mile race before surging into the lead with an explosive burst down the stretch to win by 3-1/2 lengths and end a frustrating 0-4 record against Nyquist, who carried an 8-0 career mark into the race. Race favorite Nyquist finished third, narrowly behind Cherry Wine, in the second leg of U.S. thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown series for 3-year-olds after a day of rain at Pimlico Race Course.

Paulassilverlining wins Belmont’s Vagrancy Handicap (The Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — Paulassilverlining rolled to a 3 1/4-length victory Saturday in the $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap for filly and mare sprinters at Belmont Park.

Nyquist loses for 1st time, finishing 3rd in Preakness (The Associated Press)

Doug O’Neill was clapping feverishly as Nyquist charged to the finish line, a Triple Crown still within striking distance. Finally, when it became apparent that Exaggerator had finally gotten the best of Nyquist, O’Neill dropped his hands to his side and shrugged his shoulders in defeat. Eight times previously, O’Neill, the confident trainer of Nyquist, ended up in the winner’s circle with his talented colt.

Canadian-owned Nyquist loses for 1st time, finishing 3rd in Preakness (The Canadian Press)

Doug O’Neill was clapping feverishly as Canadian-owned Nyquist charged to the finish line, a Triple Crown still within striking distance. Finally, when it became apparent that Exaggerator had finally gotten the best of Nyquist, O’Neill dropped his hands to his side and shrugged his shoulders in defeat. Eight times previously, O’Neill, the confident trainer of Nyquist, ended up in the winner’s circle with his talented colt.

No kidding: Exaggerator beats Nyquist in Preakness (The Associated Press)

Despite the fog, the rain and an undefeated Kentucky Derby winner to contend with, Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux knew the best route to the Preakness winner’s circle with Exaggerator – stay inside and wait. The rider who started his career in Maryland, guided Exaggerator to a 3 1/2-length victory over Cherry Wine in Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness, ending any chance for Triple Crown follow up after American Pharoah accomplished the rare feat last year. Nyquist finished third.

Horse racing: Nyquist trainer salutes Exaggerator (Reuters)
(Reuters) – Trainer Doug O’Neill saw Nyquist as invincible, but after a third-place run on a sloppy Preakness track on Saturday, he tipped his cap to winner Exaggerator and voiced love for his Kentucky Derby champion colt. “It’s a bummer, of course,” said O’Neill, whose Nyquist entered the 1-3/16 mile race at Pimlico with an 8-0 career mark. O’Neill said he would talk to jockey Mario Gutierrez and watch video replays before offering an analysis of the race.

Wild Dude wins Kona Gold Stakes by a length at Santa Anita (The Associated Press)

Wild Dude overtook 4-5 favorite Subtle Indian in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the $200,000 Kona Gold Stakes for older horses by a length Saturday at Santa Anita. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Wild Dude ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.10 and paid $11.20, $4 and $2.80 as the 9-2 third choice. Subtle Indian returned $2.80 and $2.40, while Cautious Giant was another half-length back in third and paid $4.20 to show.

No kidding: Exaggerator beats Canadian-owned Nyquist in Preakness (The Canadian Press)

Despite the fog, the rain and an undefeated Kentucky Derby winner to contend with, Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux knew the best route to the Preakness winner’s circle with Exaggerator — stay inside and wait. The rider, who started his career in Maryland, guided Exaggerator to a 3 1/2-length victory over Cherry Wine in Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness, ending any chance for Triple Crown follow up after American Pharoah accomplished the rare feat last year. Canadian-owned Nyquist finished third.

Tragedy on the track: More sad memories for Barbaro’s owners (The Associated Press)

The owners of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro got a grim reminder of their beloved horse’s tragic run at the Preakness 10 years ago when their filly Pramedya broke down Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. Barbaro shattered bones in his right hind leg in the 2006 Preakness. Pramedya, owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables, was injured during the fourth race and was one of two horses to die on the Preakness undercard.

2 horses die in first 4 races on Preakness Day undercard (The Associated Press)

In a tragic start to Preakness day, two horses died at Pimlico Race Course and a jockey broke a collarbone after a spill on a damp, rainy Saturday. Pramedya broke down around the turn in the fourth race, tumbled to the ground as jockey Daniel Centeno was thrown to the turf. Pimlico racing officials said the 4-year-old filly was euthanized on the track after breaking her left front cannon bone.

Former lawmaker, longtime horseman Fred Bradley dies (The Associated Press)

Fred Bradley, a former Kentucky lawmaker and longtime thoroughbred breeder whose stakes winners included champion female sprinter Groupie Doll, has died. Bradley’s son, thoroughbred trainer William ”Buff” Bradley, said his father died Friday in Wilmore, Kentucky, following a long illness. Bradley’s Indian Ridge Farm in central Kentucky produced such standout thoroughbreds as two-time Eclipse Award winner Groupie Doll and Brass Hat, a Grade I winner.

The Latest: Barbaro’s owners have horse die on Preakness Day (The Associated Press)

Ten years after Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro broke down at the start of the Preakness, the owners of the ill-fated colt have had another horse die on a damp, rainy Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. In a tragic start to Preakness day, two horses died and a jockey broke his collarbone in the first four races. Pramedya broke down around the turn in the fourth race, tumbled to the turf as jockey Daniel Centeno was thrown to the ground.