© Benoit Photo
Congratulations to the exciting Kentucky Derby contender Exaggerator, whose late-running victory in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on April 9th at Santa Anita has earned him the title of “Horse of the Week” on The Turf Board!
In a poll on The Turf Board’s Twitter page, Exaggerator received just under 88% of the votes, while Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner Brody’s Cause received the remaining 13%.
“Did I have any doubts as they were going up to the gate? No doubt, I had doubts!” Keith Desormeaux, the trainer of Exaggerator, was quoted as saying on the Santa Anita website. We had a good pace to run at in the San Felipe, but not a really fast pace. Today, we had a great pace scenario and he took full advantage. For me, this is like a dream. I mean, the (Kentucky) Derby is what everybody in this business dreams of. I think we’ll probably come in (to Churchill Downs) right on top of the race, maybe ship in on Monday or Tuesday.”
Regarding the ten-furlong distance of the Kentucky Derby, Desormeaux said “Yes, the way he finished today and the way he galloped out…If we get a fast pace, and we should, yes, I don’t think there’s any problem with it.”
Winning jockey Kent Desormeaux was also excited about Exaggerator’s performance. “Well, if he shows up the first Saturday in May like he did today… he was ultra-confident today. He’s so mature and he walked to the gate like an old pony. He left there quiet and comfortable and I think that’s the difference, when a horse lets you drive and they’re not man-handling themselves. He reminded me of Texas Red.
“He’s that caliber of horse and it’s extra special to be with Keith, and we don’t even talk too much, it’s all quite understood. All he said in the paddock was, ‘Kent, I’m telling you that I’ve never seen this horse so confident.’ When I galloped off once I was on the track, he took to the track like a duck to water. He never missed a beat and he showed it winning today.
“I don’t think it has soaked in yet, I’m pretty much in shock. I’m just going to pray that unlike Texas Red, we make it there.
“He was the fourth horse that I rode in the mud today and the others felt like they had ice skates on. Exaggerator felt like he had track shoes on. He really liked the going and I think that was part of his incredible effort today. He enjoyed the mud.
“I don’t know (if he can beat Nyquist); we’ll find out Derby Day. I heard two people say that Nyquist couldn’t handle Mohaymen. When I tried to run with him in the San Vicente and he went twenty-two and change I thought I was going to go by him like he was tied to a pole but he wouldn’t let me by. That is a very good horse.”
Exaggerator is expected to remain at Santa Anita to complete his major preparations for the Kentucky Derby and ship to Churchill Downs shortly before the race.
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