Exaggerator finally training like a Travers favorite
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The connections of Exaggerator believe the last month has made a world of difference for their 3-year-old as far as his chance for success at Saratoga.
Displeased with the way he was training over the main track here in July and the potential setup in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, trainer Keith Desormeaux called an audible and ran Exaggerator in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 31, a race he won by 1 1/2 lengths with the benefit of a fast pace and a sloppy track.
Now, Exaggerator - winner of the Santa Anita Derby, Preakness and Haskell - will look to put a hammerlock on the 3-year-old division when he runs in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes, where he will meet 13 other 3-year-olds. The 14-horse field represents the largest Travers since 1977.
Julie Clark, the assistant trainer to Desormeaux, believes she has seen significant changes in Exaggerator since the Haskell.
“To me, he seems a happier horse," Clark said Wednesday morning after Exaggerator galloped and schooled at the starting gate. "He’s out there playing and enjoying himself, and just his action, his movement has improved over the track.”
Exaggerator will have to be at his best when he meets an intriguing group in the Travers, including Belmont Stakes winner Creator, Louisiana Derby winner Gun Runner, a trio of horses from white-hot trainer Chad Brown’s stable, and a pair of up-and-comers from the barn of Bob Baffert.
Exaggerator drew post 7 and was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the Travers, which will be race 11 on a 13-race program which includes five other Grade 1 races and the return of the undefeated Lady Eli off a 13-month layoff in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa.
“I like a bigger field," Clark said. "Those small fields really change the pace scenario. This should set up for a true closer, like he is.”
The Jim Dandy had been the intended target for Exaggerator following his 11th-place finish in the Belmont Stakes. But his two workouts, though fine by measure of the stopwatch, were not done in a matter that Clark or Desormeaux liked.
“You compare times it doesn’t seem so bad, but I think you have to remove that aspect and see is it typical for your horse," Clark said. "Does it look normal? How does it compare for him? And that’s what was the concern. The flip side of that is the horse still looked good, his weight was good, his coat looked good, he was bright. It just seemed like a lot of conflicting factors.”
Exaggerator worked five furlongs in 1:00.95 last Saturday in a move that Clark felt was better than his two previous breezes.
Exaggerator’s three Grade 1 victories this year all came on sloppy tracks. Clark said she is fine with running Exaggerator on a fast track.
“I would like to give him a chance to show what he can do on a dry track,” Clark said.
While Exaggerator drew right in the middle of the field, trainer Bob Baffert’s pair of Arrogate and American Freedom drew posts 1 and 2.
Arrogate has won three straight races and came from off the pace in a three-horse field last time out. He will most certainly have to leave from the rail under Mike Smith. American Freedom was on the pace when second to Exaggerator in the Haskell. However, Baffert is taking the blinkers off of American Freedom, hoping to get him to relax and perhaps take up a stalking position under Rafael Bejarano.
Trainer Steve Asmussen didn’t mind that his two horses drew toward the outside. Creator, the Belmont Stakes winner, drew post 12, while Gun Runner, the Louisiana Derby winner who finished fifth in the Haskell, is in post 14. Creator won the Belmont from post 13 and Gun Runner has tactical speed to get a good position away from the gate, Asmussen said.
“The draw could be perfect for me,” Asmussen said. “If I’m not good enough then it’s not a good draw.”
The Travers will be shown live on NBC in a 90-minute broadcast beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern. Post time for the Travers is scheduled for 5:44 p.m.
The Travers field
Post Horse Jockey Odds
1 Arrogate Mike Smith 10-1
2 American Freedom Rafael Bejarano 6-1
3 My Man Sam Manny Franco 20-1
4 Governor Malibu Joel Rosario 12-1
5 Forever d’Oro Luis Saez 30-1
6 Anaximandros Leonel Reyes 50-1
7 Exaggerator Kent Desormeaux 3-1
8 Destin Javier Castellano 10-1
9 Gift Box Junior Alvarado 12-1
10 Connect John Velazquez 4-1
11 Majesto Ricardo Santana Jr. 30-1
12 Creator Irad Ortiz Jr. 15-1
13 Laoban Jose Ortiz 15-1
14 Gun Runner Florent Geroux 10-1