Exaggerator (Curlin) was doing well Sunday, a day after his scintillating victory in the GI Santa Anita Derby, according to trainer Keith Desormeaux. “Everything looks good this morning,” Desormeaux said Sunday. “I said after he was third in the GII San Felipe that maybe the reasons he didn't finish were that maybe he was a miler, maybe it was one of those crazy bounce theories, but not now.”
Desormeaux said he knew Exaggerator, coming off a disappointing third-place effort behind reopposing Danzing Candy (Twirling Candy) and Mor Spirit (Eskendereya) in the San Felipe, was ready for a big race Saturday.
“I think his impressive win can be attributed to a combination of several things: his fitness, his pedigree, but most of all, his demeanor before the race,” Desormeaux explained. “He's never been a fidgety horse, but yesterday before the race he was calm and never turned a hair.”
Danzing Candy, who tired to fourth after setting the pace in the Santa Anita Derby, also exited the race in fine shape, but trainer Cliff Sise, Jr. said there were currently “no plans” on where the colt would run next.
Also exiting Saturday's Derby prep victories well and moving on to Louisville were GI Wood Memorial winner Outwork (Uncle Mo) and GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner Brody's Cause (Giant's Causeway).
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