Exaggerator picks up the pace in gallop

ELMONT, N.Y. – Preakness winner Exaggerator got a bit more serious about his training for the June 11 Belmont Stakes with a strong gallop over the main track Tuesday morning that saw him go his last half-mile in 56.50 seconds.

He went better than a two-minute clip – 15 seconds per eighth-mile – from the three-eighths pole to the 1 3/8-miles pole on a warm, humid morning on Long Island.

Julie Clark, assistant to trainer Keith Desormeaux, said Tuesday’s exercise was designed to put “air in his lungs and stretch him out.”

On his second morning in New York, Exaggerator came though the paddock and onto the main track at 9 a.m. He walked back to the five-sixteenths pole, where he stood for a few moments under exercise rider Peedy Landry.

Exaggerator jogged for an eighth-mile or so before breaking into a gallop. Exaggerator got a little strong around the clubhouse turn, prompting Landry to take a hold of him and slow him down a bit.

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“He’s doing that because he feels good, not because he’s anxious,” Clark said.

Exaggerator went a bit more controlled down the backside before picking up at the half-mile pole entering the far turn. He went from the half-mile pole to the three-eighths pole in 15.18 seconds, then roughly went at a 14-second clip from the three-eighths pole to 1 3/8-miles pole.

Clark said she liked the fact Exaggerator “picked it up and was willing to go instead of having to be asked. I guess he’s maturing.”

Exaggerator did get a little hot during his gallop, but it was quite humid Tuesday morning.

Exaggerator was expected to jog Wednesday, walk Thursday, and gallop Friday and Saturday. Clark confirmed that Exaggerator will have an official workout next Tuesday at Belmont.

Lani gallops three miles

The four other Belmont Stakes horses on the grounds all galloped Tuesday morning.

Lani, after staying in the barn Monday, galloped about three miles shortly after 6:30 a.m. Lani, fifth in the Preakness and ninth in the Derby, is expected to have an official workout Wednesday morning.

Destin, sixth in the Derby, and Stradivari, fourth in the Preakness, both galloped 1 3/8 miles over the training track.

Governor Malibu, second in the Peter Pan, galloped 1 1/2 miles.

* Brody’s Cause, Cherry Wine, and Creator were all expected to arrive early Wednesday morning following a van ride from Louisville, Ky.

– additional reporting by Mike Welsch