Exaggerator Lives Up to Hype in Delta Downs Jackpot

Exaggerator outfinished Sunny Ridge to win the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes on Saturday. (Coady Photography)
by Claire Novak, @BH_CNovak
Big Chief Racing’s Exaggerator was the class of the field headed into the $1-million Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes, and the Curlin colt delivered with a solid run Nov. 21 at Delta Downs.
Coming off a fourth-place finish in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 and breaking from post position nine in a 10-horse field for the 1 1/16-mile Delta Downs Jackpot, Exaggerator had no issue shifting over under jockey Kent Desormeaux to take over from early pacesetter Iron Dome.
Exaggerator seized command after the opening quarter-mile and led after a half-mile in :47.53 and three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.47. Although he was headed momentarily by Champagne Stakes runner-up Sunny Ridge heading into the far turn of the Grade 3 race, he battled back determinedly to prevail, finishing the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:46.48 on a sloppy track.
The overwhelming favorite returned $3.80 for a $2 win bet, while Sunny Ridge finished a neck back in second. Harlan Punch settled for third and Found Money was fourth.
Winner of the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes and second in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity for trainer Keith Desormeaux, Exaggerator was bred in Kentucky by Joseph B. Murphy out of the Vindication mare Dawn Raid. He was a $110,000 purchase at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Exaggerator collected 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard, as the Delta Jackpot is a qualifying race worth points (10-4-2-1) to the top four finishers toward a spot in the 2016 Kentucky Derby starting gate. Exaggerator ranks second to Nyquist, who has 30 points, on the leaderboard with 16 points.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
EXAGGERATOR HOLDS ON IN DELTA DOWNS JACKPOT

Coady Photography