By Mike Kane
SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York–Per usual, Exaggerator (Curlin) was his active, playful self during his bath Wednesday morning at Saratoga Race Course. A glance told pretty much everything about the colt three days after his victory in the GI Haskell Invitational. In four words, assistant trainer Julie Clark provided a concise analysis: “Obviously, feeling very good.”
So are his connections after trainer Keith Desormeaux changed course last week and opted to skip the GII Jim Dandy S. at the Spa on Saturday and send the GI Preakness S. winner to the Haskell. It turned out to be a brilliant move and the colt owned by Big Chief Racing and partners romped in the mud. He improved to 4-1-0 from five starts on wet tracks and stepped to the top of the 3-year-old male division with a second-straight victory over GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist (Uncle Mo). Exaggerator went back to the track Wednesday morning and Clark said he wasn't showing any signs of fatigue from the Haskell.
“Very fresh,” Clark said. “He was on his toes, full of himself today.” She said that he seemed to be more energetic than before the trip to Monmouth Park, but wasn't surprised that Exaggerator welcomed the chance for more exercise after two post-race days of walking in rainy upstate New York.
The historic GI Travers S. Aug. 27 remains the goal, Clark said, and that Desormeaux will make the call, probably after Exaggerator works the weekend of Aug. 20. Desormeaux decided on the Haskell after overseeing a July 23 work at Saratoga.
“He just didn't think he was his normal self here,” she said. “I think all this rain is going to make this track different, too. The horse loved it last year. I think we'll be back on schedule.”
Clark said she welcomes the opportunity to meet the top horses in the division that might show up in the Travers.
“We like it,” she said. “Keith is the first one to say that to be the best you have to beat the best. You kind of have to prove to everybody where you stand.”
As for whether Exaggerator stands at the top of the division after the Haskell, Clark politely said that was probably the case, but pointed to Laoban's upset win in the Jim Dandy at 27-1.
“I've asked a few people that and people are giving me a yes to that,” she said. “It was sort of between us and Nyquist. I don't like to run anybody down; Nyquist is a great horse, too. All these horses are tough. You've seen the race here, on any given day anyone can step up and beat everybody you expect to win.”
Although his last three wins have come on wet tracks, Clark said Exaggerator does not need rain to be effective.
“I think he has disproved that. Even here last year [when he won the GII Saratoga Special], it was a fast track. We're just fortunate that he does not mind an off track. If he excels on it, that's great. I said that about the Haskell when we first looked at it and there was no rain in the forecast and I thought it would be a great opportunity to show what he could do on a fast track, too.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
