Despite the fog, the rain and an undefeated Kentucky Derby winner to contend with, Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux knew the best route to the Preakness winner’s circle with Exaggerator — stay inside and wait.

The rider who started his career in Maryland guided Exaggerator to a 3 1/2- length victory over Cherry Wine in Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness, ending any chance for a Triple Crown follow up after American Pharoah accomplished the rare feat last year. Nyquist finished third.

Just call Pimlico Race Course home track advantage, Desormeaux.

Stride by stride, Exaggerator made up ground along the rail as Nyquist and Uncle Lino dueled for the lead. Desormeaux was watching.

“I had a dream trip,” he said. “To me it looked like Nyquist was trying to establish an outward position, maybe in the four path. He was jockeying for position all the way down the back side. And Exaggerator just kind of slid up the fence to the far turn where I actually got to slow him down and say ‘whenever I’m ready.'”

He was ready with 3/16ths of a mile to go, and splashed his way past Nyquist to finally beat his nemesis after four losses, including a runnerup finish in the Derby.

“It was an amazing race and Exaggerator is an amazing horse,” Desormeaux said.

The day began on a somber note. Two horses died and a jockey was injured in the first four races, one of the horses bred and owned by Gretchen and Roy Jackson — the owners of the ill-fated Barbaro.

It was 10 years ago when Derby winner Barbaro shattered bones in his right hind leg at the start of the Preakness. Seven months later, he was euthanized. The Jacksons’ 4-year-old filly Pramedya was euthanized on the track Saturday after she broke down during the fourth race. Jockey Daniel Centeno broke his right collar bone.

Earlier, 9-year-old gelding Homeboykris won the first race, and then collapsed and died while being led back to his barn.

Nyquist was the 3-5 favorite in the 11- horse field, with Exaggerator the second choice at 5-2. But this day was all Exaggerator — no kidding.

The 3-year-old son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin trailed by 13 lengths at one point but kept gaining ground along the rail. Desormeaux saw an opening around the final turn, angled outside and Exaggerator took over.

Nyquist broke well under Mario Gutierrez. The duel was costly.