Exaggerator puts in solid work for Travers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – If there were any doubt about whether Exaggerator would run in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes, it was removed after the three-time Grade 1-winning 3-year-old put in a solid five-furlong workout over Saratoga’s main track Saturday.

Exaggerator, in his only breeze since he won the Grade 1 Haskell on July 31, worked in 1:00.97, getting his final quarter in 24.17 seconds. He then galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.65. The time was less important to his connections than how the work was done.

Unlike his two breezes here in mid-July, Exaggerator showed interest in finishing and galloping out and did not need to be pushed on by the rider, which in this case was Dylan Davis.

“I wanted to see that he didn’t have his head up and that the rider wasn’t pushing on him. I didn’t see either of those things,” said Julie Clark, assistant to trainer Keith Desormeaux. “He came through there nicely, and I think if Dylan asked him to pick things up, he could have gone faster. But it’s his first time on him; he didn’t want to push him. He could have gone a lot faster than that, but he definitely didn’t need to.

“I loved his gallop-out,” Clark added. “In those previous two [workouts], he was not interested, but this time, he was.”

Exaggerator’s two subpar workouts here in July prompted his connections to ship the horse to Monmouth for the Haskell, which he won by taking advantage of a hot pace and a sloppy track.

Exaggerator, the Preakness winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up, is the likely favorite in what is shaping up to be a full Travers field. The field is limited to 14 starters, but there could be 15 horses in the box when entries are made and post positions finalized Tuesday. If that comes to fruition, Forever d’Oro would be relegated to the also-eligible list due to insufficient earnings in 2016.

Four other definite starters and one possible entrant worked Saturday: Jim Dandy Stakes winner Laoban, Curlin Stakes 1-2 finishers Connect and Gift Box, Blue Grass Stakes runner-up My Man Sam, and Florida Derby runner-up Majesto, who is possible for the Travers.

Laoban worked five furlongs in 59.74 seconds in a move that turned into a mini-race. Trainer Eric Guillot put the unraced 2-year-old Blue Xanadu several lengths in front of Laoban. Under Jose Ortiz, Laoban went in splits of 12.62 seconds and 24.16 while chasing Blue Xanadu.

Laoban, equipped with blinkers, went outside of Blue Xanadu approaching the quarter pole, drew on even terms at the three-sixteenths, and was in front by the eighth pole.

In the final sixteenth, Laoban spotted a horse from John Kimmel’s barn who was finishing up a slow workout, and he rallied inside of him to finish in front by the wire. Laoban got his last quarter in 24.11 seconds.

Laoban continued to gallop out sharply, going six furlongs in 1:12.27, seven furlongs in 1:25.11, and pulling up a mile in 1:39.85.

“I thought that work was incredible,” Guillot said. “I think that might have been his best work to date. I knew he was going to work good; he’s doing good.”

After the 8:45 a.m. renovation break, trainer Chad Brown put his trio of Travers contenders through five-furlong workouts.

Gift Box, working by himself under Javier Castellano, went in 1:02.49 and then galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.38. Castellano has yet to commit to Belmont Stakes runner-up Destin or Gift Box for the Travers.

Connect, with John Velazquez up, worked in 1:01.11 outside of Skill Not Luck. Connect galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.59.

My Man Sam went in 1:02.48 in company with Kerjillion. They galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.67.

“I broke them all off at the half-mile pole,” Brown said. “I expected the track to be very busy after the break. I felt like we had more control over what they do on the gallop-out the way we had the works set up.”

Brown said he worked Connect and My Man Sam in company because “both horses seem to work a little better with a target.”

Majesto went six furlongs in 1:15.49 under Castellano.

Trainer Gustavo Delgado was noncommittal regarding the Travers. Majesto, sixth of seven in the Curlin, is also eligible for an allowance race on Thursday, entries for which were due Sunday.

The draw for the Travers will be held Tuesday evening at the downtown restaurant Druthers. Other horses expected to enter include American Freedom, Anaximandros, Arrogate, Creator, Governor Malibu, Gun Runner, and Mohaymen.

– additional reporting by Mike Welsch