Nyquist trainer not concerned about poor conditions ahead of Preakness

It will likely be downpour with wind gusts up to 20 mph at Pimlico Race Course for Saturday's Preakness Stakes, but the weather isn't an issue in the mind of the trainer of the reigning Kentucky Derby winner.

"With a horse like Nyquist, I'm not overly concerned about the weather," Doug O'Neill told the Associated Press on Friday via ESPN. "As far as rain or shine, we're not going to change anything shoeing-wise. He's going to wear the same shoes he's got on.

"We'd just love to have a beautiful day."

A soggy course will, however, present an advantage to a few horses, namely rival Exaggerator, which won on a muddy track at the Santa Anita Derby last month.

Nyquist has won on sloppy conditions as the 8-0 horse won the Florida Derby after significant rains soaked the track.