The demise of thoroughbred racing took a serious jolt in the past two days and the situation will continue for at least two more weeks as the world speculates on the possibility of another Triple Crown winner.

    Of course, there are thousands this morning who saw Exaggerator come flying down the stretch after Nyquist and are already handing him the Belmont Stakes. They figure the runner-up won't be able to get to the champ in the Preakness, because, as we know, 1 3/16 miles is shorter than 1 1/4 miles. But wait 'til he gets to that mile and a half!

    That's just what Howard Cosell was bellowing after Seattle Slew had just wrapped up the 1977 Derby, with Sanhedrin bearing down on him late. "Wait 'til he gets to the Belmont," Howard screamed into the microphone. The order of finish of that mile-and- one-halfer was Seattle Slew, Run Dusty Run, Sanhedrin. 

    Nyquist did everything right yesterday, and there are those who will say, "Well, he got a perfect trip." Yup. And great horses get perfect trips because they make perfect trips for themselves. The son of Uncle Mo has so far gotten eight perfect trips. He went in with earnings of $3,322,600, most ever by any horse running in the Derby, and came out with another $1,631,600, for a total of $4,954,200. 

    It's not like Nyquist didn't run fast - his 2:01.31 was the best since Funny Cide's 2:01.19 in 2003. American Pharoah's clocking last year was a snail's-pace 2:03.02.

    The Daily Racing Form's consensus box featured 21 selectors, and just eight of the 21 picked Nyquist. Andy Beyer, he of the infamous Beyer numbers, racing books, newspaper columns and major betting scores, picked Danzing Candy. If I had had the opportunity, I would have liked to have booked all win bets on the pacesetter since he was the first one I threw out. A quitting front-runner from the No. 20 post. What a bargain!

    Kudos must go to morning-line-maker Mike Battaglia. He has never nailed one like this in his career. He had Nyquist as the 3-1 favorite and Nyquist won. Exaggerator was second choice at 8-1 and he finished there. Creator, Gun Runner and Mohaymen were all 10-1 and Gun Runner finished third and Mohaymen fourth. Creator finished 13th but he was fouled badly. Suddenbreaking News was 20-1 and snuck in fifth, but 12-1 Destin was sixth, 12-1 Brody's Cause seventh and 12-1 Mor Spirit 10th. Making a morning line for a 20-horse Derby with lots of talent isn't easy, but Mike did a great job.

    As for the gloom and doomers? They had to be in awe as Friday's Kentucky Oaks program broke all kinds of attendance and handle records and Derby day came very close. The same should happen at Pimlico in two weeks. Is it possible the game is coming back?  

    FIRST FRESHMAN FINISHES FOURTH - The first runner for any Florida freshman sire raced Friday and finished fourth. Maggie Laine, a daughter of Stonehedge Farm South's Revolving, went off at 5-1 in her 4 1/2-furlong debut at Gulfstream and ran evenly, while never getting close to a runaway winner. She picked up $1,800. Revolving, a son of A. P. Indy, has 14 foals in his first crop.  

    

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