Desormeaux Barn Buzzing Over Exaggerator

There was plenty of excitement at trainer Keith Desormeaux's barn Aug. 17 at Saratoga Race Course following Exaggerator's game victory in the Saratoga Special (gr. II) for 2-year-olds the previous day.

 

Making his first start on the East Coast, Big Chief Racing's California-based Curlin   colt showed maturity beyond his years by squeezing past favored Saratoga Mischief along the inside in deep stretch to win his stakes debut by three-quarters of a length. He is under consideration for the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) this fall at Keeneland.

 

"Is it uncool to be still super-excited? ...I watched the replay and they zeroed in kind of right when he found a spot and burst through there," said Julie Clark, Desormeaux's assistant trainer. "It looked so professional. He doesn't really give you that indication in the barn that he's carefree about things like that."

 

Clark said Exaggerator came out of the 6 1/2-furlong race "great".  

 

"I walked him this morning myself, and he ate up and he doesn't look drawn. He wasn't totally sharp, but he walked with confidence and seemed happy."

 

While the $350,000 Hopeful (gr. I) at seven furlongs Sept. 7 hasn't been ruled out, Clark said the final decision lies with Desormeaux.

 

"I think he wants to try to get a little more distance next time to get more of a prep for the Breeders' Cup, but who knows. Keith will pull anything out of his hat."

 

Meanwhile, meet-leading trainer Todd Pletcher said Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Saratoga Mischief, a son of Into Mischief  , was doing well following his runner-up effort. Pletcher already has Sanford (gr. III) winner Uncle Vinny pointed to the Hopeful.

 

"He came back well—the winner was very good," Pletcher said. "I was pleased with the way he ran; we were just second-best."