May 21--REPORTING FROM BALTIMORE -- If you like slop, if you like mud, you'll love the Preakness Day card at Pimlico Race Course.
As rain stopped in the morning but the track remained very wet, the excitement was building for the 141st running of the Preakness Stakes. The big moment should come somewhere around 6:45 p.m. local time, or 3:45 p.m. in Los Angeles.
The race card starts at 10:30 a.m. EDT. Television coverage of the undercard starts at 2:30 p.m. (11:30 PDT) and the big boys at NBC take over the coverage at 5 (2 PDT).
The star of the show is Nyquist, undefeated in eight starts including the Kentucky Derby. In early betting he was listed at 4-5. The second choice is Exaggerator, whom bettors seem to favor, dropping his 3-1 morning line to 9-5 in early betting.
The interest in Exaggerator is likely because of his dominating win in the Santa Anita Derby, also run over an off track.
The 1 3/16-mile race is the second leg of the Triple Crown. The final leg, the Belmont Stakes, will be in three weeks at Belmolnt Park.
MORE HORSE RACING
Road to the Triple Crown
Learn about the Preakness Stakes horses
Are Nyquist and Exaggerator this year's Affirmed an Alydar?
Follow John Cherwa on Twitter @jcherwa
