Nyquist favored over Exaggerator at Haskell

Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist has been made the 6-5 morning-line favorite for the $1 million Haskell Invitational Sunday at Monmouth Park in a six-horse field that includes Preakness winner Exaggerator.

Nyquist drew the inside No. 1 post at Thursday’s draw in what will be the colt’s first start since finishing third in the Preakness, the only loss of his career. The son of Uncle Mo is trained by Doug O’Neill and will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez.

Exaggerator is the 5-2 second choice for Sunday’s 1 1/8-mile Haskell, and drew the outside No. 6 post. The colt will be making his first start since finishing 11th in the Belmont Stakes. He is trained by Keith Desormeaux and will be ridden by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux.

The rest of the field is American Freedom (3-1), Gun Runner (4-1), Awesome Slew (15-1) and Sunny Ridge (20-1).

The Nyquist-Exaggerator matchup is the sixth time the colts will meet. Nyquist won the first four, including the Derby, before Exaggerator beat him in the Preakness on May 21.