Juveniles Work Toward Keeneland Stakes

Big Chief Racing’s grade II winner Exaggerator put in his final work for the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland, going five furlongs Sept 26 at Churchill Downs in 1:01.



“He looked awesome,”said Julie Clark, assistant to trainer Keith Desormeaux. “He was real strong and galloped out nice. "His progression back has been a little slower. Last week’s work was a little on the slow side so we wanted to ask a little more this time. Brian (Hernandez Jr.) actually said that he didn’t have to ask and that he was a little eager to go around there so we’re happy.”

 

Bred in Kentucky by Joseph B. Murphy, the son of Curlin  ’s most recent outing was a victory in the Saratoga Special (gr. II) on Aug. 16.



“He was at the back in the early stages but moved up and didn’t get rattled sitting behind those horses.” Clark said of the Saratoga Special. “I think he got a little impatient with (jockey) Junior (Alvarado) and said, ‘Hey we’re going,’ so he showed a lot of maturity. He came out of that race great. The next day you walk him and think ‘Okay, this thing needs to run.' ”

 

Clark compared Exaggerator to last year’s Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Texas Red.

 

“Texas Red was mentally just a little more focused,” she said. “This horse on the other hand is all over the map. This horse is just never tired; every day he is a bundle of energy. When he’s on the track it’s night and day. He looked so mature in the (Saratoga) Special.”



Also breezing from the Desormeaux barn on Saturday morning was Decked Out, who worked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 in preparation for the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (gr. I) Oct. 2 at Keeneland.



“She’s been training real nice,” Clark said of the daughter of Street Boss  . “We’ve been getting her to relax a little bit and I think that’ll help her. The fitness is there for sure.”



In her most recent start, Decked Out finished fifth in the Pocahontas (gr. II) where she was fifth beaten six lengths.



Another Breeders’ Futurity possible on the work tab at Churchill Downs was Rated R Superstar, a son of Kodiak Kowboy who went five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 with Calvin Borel up for trainer Kenny McPeek.



“He worked super,” McPeek said. “Calvin worked him real well and he set down just a beautiful breeze. Everything’s all good. All systems go.”

 

Working in company with Rated R Superstar was stablemate Dothraki Queen. The recent Pocahontas Stakes winner owned by Magdalena Racing LLC went five furlongs in 1:03 4/5 up in preparation for the Alcibiades.