Exaggerator to stand at WinStar Farm upon retirement

WinStar Farm has acquired the breeding rights to Santa Anita Derby winner Exaggerator, who is scheduled to make his next start May 7 in the Kentucky Derby. He will go to WinStar at the conclusion of his racing career, Elliott Walden, the president and chief executive of WinStar, said Monday.

Exaggerator, a son of Curlin, is owned by a partnership headed by Matt Bryan's Big Chief Racing. He is trained by Keith Desormeaux.

Exaggerator's win in the Santa Anita Derby was his fourth in nine starts. Earlier this year, he was second to Nyquist in the San Vicente Stakes and third to Danzing Candy and Mor Spirit in the San Felipe. Last year, Exaggerator won the Saratoga Special and Delta Jackpot and was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Walden made the deal in the past week. He was in California last week to see Exaggerator in person at Santa Anita.

WinStar, owned by Kenny Troutt, also has its own Derby prospect in Creator, the winner of the Arkansas Derby.

“We’re very excited to be able to add a top son of Curlin to our future stallion roster,” Walden said in a press release. “Exaggerator has been among the best of his class for two seasons now. I love his consistency, his 2-year-old form, and his ability to stretch out and win the Santa Anita Derby. He’s won at four different racetracks, East Coast, West Coast, it doesn't matter. Exaggerator is an extreme racehorse, and, physically, he’s absolutely beautiful.”

He will be syndicated by WinStar upon retirement to stud, Walden said.