What’s Next for Kentucky Derby Runners

Racing
Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist at Pimlico. (Eclipse Sportswire)

The dust from the 142nd Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands has settled, and now that we’ve all had a few days to soak in Nyquist’s magnificent win you may be wondering what’s next. Of course, that would be the Preakness Stakes on May 21 in Baltimore, but most of the Derby horses will sit that race out.

Some will wait for the Belmont Stakes, some will target major summer races like the Travers Stakes and some have plans that are yet to be determined. Get the rundown on who’s headed where below.

Headed to the Preakness

Nyquist

Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist has already arrived at Pimlico Race Course to begin his preparations for the second jewel of the Triple Crown, a schedule that his trainer, Doug O’Neill, followed with Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner I’ll Have Another in 2012.

Exaggerator

Exaggerator (Eclipse Sportswire)

Exaggerator closed from far back to finish second in the Derby, beaten just 1 ¼ lengths. Although he has lost to Nyquist four times now, his connections are heading to Baltimore to test him again in the Preakness. Exaggerator is scheduled to arrive at Pimlico on Sunday.

Lani

Japanese-trained Lani was one of the most talked about horses of Derby week due to his antics and unusual training routine. He finished ninth in the race but has already shipped east to Belmont Park to prepare for a run in the Preakness and later the Belmont Stakes.

Possible for the Preakness

Gun Runner

Gun Runner snatched the lead in the Derby with a quarter-mile remaining but couldn’t hold on and ultimately finished third. His connections are mulling a run in the Preakness but haven’t yet decided for sure.

Aiming for the Belmont Stakes

Suddenbreakingnews

Suddenbreakingnews (Eclipse Sportswire)

Enduring a very troubled trip, Suddenbreakingnews closed determinedly from 19th to finish fifth in the Derby, an effort strong enough for his connections to point for the Belmont Stakes.

Brody’s Cause

Kentucky Derby seventh-place finisher Brody’s Cause exited the race well and is pointing toward the Belmont Stakes.

Mo Tom

Mo Tom, who races for New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans owners Tom and Gayle Benson, finished eighth in the Derby and is headed for the Belmont Stakes next.

Pointing for other races

Mohaymen

Derby fourth-place finisher Mohaymen is being pointed toward a start in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course this summer.

Tom’s Ready

Tom’s Ready, who finished 12th in the Derby, is under consideration for several 3-year-old stakes races for the rest of the year but may try an allowance race first.

Oscar Nominated

The Derby was the first try on dirt for 17th-place finisher Oscar Nominated, and his trainer Mike Maker reports that he’s headed back to turf races.

Plans to be decided

Sixth-place finisher Destin and 15th-place finisher Outwork have returned to their New York base, where trainer Todd Pletcher will evaluate future options.

Danzing Candy finished the Derby with an entrapped epiglottis, which will be corrected with medication, but his next race is undecided.

Maiden Trojan Nation has already shipped back to his home base of California, where he will regroup for races later this year.

My Man Sam, 11th place, came out in good order for trainer Chad Brown and is back in New York, where future plans will be determined. Brown's other runner, Shagaf, was pulled up in the stretch but walked off the track in the Derby. He was sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington for a precautionary evaluation.

Plans also remain undetermined for Mor SpiritCreatorMajesto and Whitmore.

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