Exaggerator to Run in Haskell

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Exaggerator will travel to the Jersey Shore this weekend in a quest for championship honors. 

In a surprising move after trainer Keith Desormeaux said he would likely skip the July 30 Jim Dandy (gr. II) at Saratoga Race Course, co-owner Matt Bryan of Big Chief Racing said the Curlin   colt's connections want a rematch the next day with Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Nyquist in the betfair.com Haskell Invitational (gr. I).

"If we really want to compete for 3-year-old colt of the year, we need to race Nyquist. ... and the Haskell sets up. It's a grade I worth a lot of money, so it's very exciting," Bryan said.

Exaggerator finished second to Nyquist in the Kentucky Derby, with Haskell rival Gun Runner  checking in third. The tables were turned two weeks later, when Nyquist finished third and Exaggerator won the Preakness on a sloppy track. Nyquist skipped the June 11 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) due to a fever, and Exaggerator finished 11th in that race last time out.

"We've gone back and looked at that race. I'm not going to say certain things publicly, but I can tell you I think we could have been right in the mix of everything if we'd changed a couple things," Bryan said. "That's Keith saying that. He's the trainer—he's the man—not me."

The Haskell will now feature the top three finishers from the Run for the Roses. Gun Runner arrived on the grounds July 26 to prepare for Sunday's 1 1/8-mile test, and Nyquist shipped in along with Iowa Derby (gr. III) winner American Freedom the afternoon of July 27.

BLOOD-HORSE STAFF: Nyquist Arrives at Monmouth

Exaggerator has worked twice at Saratoga, where he won last year's Saratoga Special (gr. II), after getting back on the tab July 9 at Belmont Park. He posted a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.76 July 16, best of 17 at the distance on the day, and six furlongs in 1:13.87 July 23 as the only six-furlong move that morning.

"The work last week wasn't the best work, but the track is very deep over there in Saratoga right now," Bryan said. "We've been training him over the Belmont and Saratoga tracks and now we're going to go to Monmouth for a change of scenery. 

"He's a very versatile horse. ... We just think if we're going to try to win champion 3-year-old colt honors we have to run against Nyquist, because he will definitely be the favorite in this race."

Exaggerator is a multiple graded stakes winner with wins in the Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III) by a neck over fellow Haskell entrant Sunny Ridge, as well as a Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) romp in his final prep for the Kentucky Derby. He also ran second in last year's Claiborne Breeder's Futurity (gr. I) to Brody's Cause, who will enter the Haskell starting gate. 

Exaggerator is one of only two horses to run in all three Triple Crown races this year (the other was Lani). 

"I might have been second-guessing the figure of his works, but I'm not second-guessing the horse is very fit, very sound, very happy, very confident, (and) very everything, as far as the characteristics we look for in a horse that's ready to run," Desormeaux said. "He's got such a foundation on him from running in all three Triple Crown races, plus plenty of racing early in the season, and I just couldn't leave him idle when I know our horse is sitting on go. (Assistant) Julie (Clark) has done a great job getting him ready."

With a scheduled post time of 5:49 p.m. EDT, the Haskell will be telecast live on NBC. Exaggerator ships to Monmouth July 28; regular rider Kent Desormeaux will have the mount. The race is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win & You're In" event for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).

"Obviously, our end-of-season goal is to be able to run in the Classic," Keith Desormeaux said. "If we're lucky enough to win the Haskell, we're talking about major savings. So from the economic angle it was the obvious choice, plus it also sets up for Exaggerator as far as the pace is concerned.

"With (Bob) Baffert's horse (American Freedom) and Nyquist in the race, it assures a hot pace. ...Also, Exaggerator has nothing to prove to me, but if we want to reach for the highest of goals, which is 3-year-old championship honors, he's going to have to beat the best out there."

Desormeaux isn't ruling out a potential run back at Saratoga in the Aug. 27 Travers (gr. I) if all goes well in the Haskell.

"You know how I am, I love to run—especially a horse like this; he's so sound, he's so vigorous and happy, he loves the competition," he said. "He's not a fretful horse, he's very confident and always ready to compete. He bounces back quickly, so if he runs well in the Haskell, we'll have to give the Travers a shot—unless I determine with 100% accuracy he doesn't like that surface. We hope to bounce back like he usually does and we definitely want to run in the Travers. We had such a good time there last year; the New York Racing Association does a hell of a job putting on that show and we want to be a part of it."