Exaggerator gets a freshening
Exaggerator, the winner of three Grade 1 races this year, including the Preakness Stakes, went to WinStar Farm on Friday for a freshening, according to his trainer, Keith Desormeaux.
Desormeaux said he is unsure whether Exaggerator would make the Breeders' Cup Classic, though he acknowledged, "It may be a little close to the race to think he'd return from a freshening and run, but we'll see what happens."
WinStar in April acquired the breeding rights to Exaggerator, who will stand at the farm upon retirement. Desormeaux and Elliott Walden, the president and chief executive of WinStar, both confirmed that WinStar was now in control of managing Exaggerator's career.
Walden on Friday said Exaggerator was going to WinStar to be "re-evaluated."
"He needs at least a brief freshening," Walden said. "He'll be X-rayed, and we'll see where we're at. We'll see what the next week brings and see what is decided."
WinStar has an extensive stallion roster. On Thursday, it was announced that Outwork and Speightster were retired and would stand at WinStar beginning in 2017.
Exaggerator finished seventh last week in the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx, which marked his third out-of-the-money finish in his last four starts.
"I didn't like his last start," Desormeaux said. "I didn't like that he ran a dull race."
Exaggerator trained at Churchill Downs in the weeks leading up to the Pennsylvania Derby, and he returned to Churchill after the race. After a few days at Churchill, he went to WinStar.
Exaggerator won the Santa Anita Derby in April, the Preakness in May, and the Haskell in July, giving him Grade 1 wins this year, more than any other 3-year-old male.