Trainer's Trust in Curlin Yields Exaggerator

By going against racing's "What have you done for me lately?" mindset, Keith Desormeaux has found value at yearling sales, an angle he says helped him land classic winner Exaggerator and Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Texas Red.

As Desormeax sees it, sometimes believing in a young sire just a bit longer than the masses can pay off. He said that approach helped him land this year's Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Exaggerator, by two-time Horse of the Year and classic winner Curlin  ; and Texas Red, by dual classic winner Afleet Alex  .

"If a stallion isn't hot on the track, then people will move elsewhere," Desormeaux said. "You know, there's always another hot, young prospect coming in. The nature of the game is to give young sires a chance. Everybody tries to get in on the first crop while the breeding fee is low and the prices are maybe low to get that next superstar."

As buyers move on to new sires, Desormeaux said that can create value from other young sires who may have not immediately registered success. He said sticking with those other young sires for a bit longer can pay off big.

"I think Afleet Alex and Curlin were at that breaking point," Desormeaux said. "They were losing public support, and then, obviously the Texas Reds and the Exaggerators and the Stellar Winds came into play."

Working with Desormeaux, Big Chief Racing landed Exaggerator for $110,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale from the consignment of Warrendale Sales, agent. While the $125,482 average of Curlin yearlings sold that season was the highest of his first four crops, it would jump to $180,223 the following year.

On the track in 2014, Curlin's classic-winning son Palace Malice   added the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) to his resume, but in 2015 Curlin would take things to another level on the track with champion 3-year-old filly Stellar Wind, and grade I winners Keen Ice and Curalina. Curlin's stud fee fell to $25,000 in 2013 but in 2015 he stands for $100,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms.

Erich Brehm, working with Desormeaux, landed Texas Red for $17,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. After Afleet Alex's first-crop yearlings sold for $159,772 in 2008, they averaged $63,715 in 2013.

"It's all about what have you done for me lately, and if a stallion isn't hot on the track, then people will move elsewhere," Desormeaux said, before adding with a laugh. "They give up on trainers, too, real quick."

Desormeaux said Exaggerator's conformation was the initial attraction at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale.

"I spotted him in the back ring and immediately was attracted to him; very correct in his conformation upfront and behind; a very good walker; catlike walk with a good coverage of ground and efficiency," Desormeaux said. "His balance, it's so important the balance of the placement of his neck and angle of his shoulder and length of his back and through his hind end, balance is so important and efficiency. And intelligent eyes. He had it all physically.

"Then you go to pedigree. Of course he's by a sire that I always loved and couldn't wait to get my hands on one; Curlin. It so happened that at that time, Curlin was pretty cold. Curlin was respected but he wasn't a go-to sire at that time."

Considering his appealing conformation, Desormeaux suspects Exaggerator would have sold for a much higher price if buyers had been higher on Curlin that year.

"He wasn't the hot sire at the time, and I think that's totally the only reason I could get my hands on Exaggerator, because as an individual he was outstanding," Desormeaux said.