Exaggerator gets smart ride to win Saratoga Special

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – He didn’t have the easiest time getting here nor did he have the smoothest of trips in the race, but Exaggerator still was talented enough to get the job done Sunday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special for 2-year-old males.

Arriving here Thursday after flying from California to Kentucky and vanning the rest of the way, Exaggerator rallied from last, split horses in midstretch, and out-footed the even-money favorite Saratoga Mischief to win the Saratoga Special by three-quarters of a length. Saratoga Mischief was second by 4 3/4 lengths over Hammers Vision. John Q. Public, Holding Gold, and Mid Life Crisis completed the field.

Exaggerator’s victory, his second from three starts, further validates a June 5 maiden race at Santa Anita that produced Nyquist, winner of the Grade 1 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar.

Breaking from the rail in the six-horse field, Exaggerator was last, four lengths off the pace, after John Q. Public sped off to an opening quarter in 21.60 seconds. Saratoga Mischief, coming off a debut victory here, took over from John Q. Public after a half-mile in 45.19.

Alvarado saved all the ground on Exaggerator, but at the top of the stretch, he had to decide whether to go outside or inside. Alvarado chose to go to the inside, and he found room between John Q. Pubic and Saratoga Mischief, splitting them at the sixteenth pole and edging away late.

Exaggerator, a son of Curlin owned by Big Chief Racing and trained by Keith Desormeaux, covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.39 and returned $11.40 as the co-third choice.

“By the quarter pole, I didn’t have anywhere to go, so I decided to go to the rail, which was my best chance,” Alvarado said. “He did help me. As soon as I asked him, he went through without any problem, without hesitating.”

Julie Clark, the assistant to Desormeaux, said she was extremely impressed with Exaggerator’s performance.

“He got a lot of dirt in his face and hung in there and was looking for a spot,” Clark said. “I wasn’t sure he could get to the rail, and then he burst between the two. I thought that showed some real class for a baby.”