Exaggerator works five furlongs toward Breeders' Futurity

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Exaggerator, likely to be among the favorites for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity on opening weekend at Keeneland, turned in his final work for that assignment Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. With Brian Hernandez aboard, the 2-year-old went five furlongs in 1:01 flat, fifth-best of 43 on the day.

"He was real strong, galloped out in 1:12, the last eighth in 11 [seconds] and change," Julie Clark, assistant to trainer Keith Desormeaux, said. "It was nice."

In his most recent outing, Exaggerator won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 15 at Saratoga, where he showed a good deal of maturity when coming through a tight spot on the rail late to win by three-quarters of a length.

"He didn't get rattled sitting behind those horses," Clark said. "He couldn't find a way through, and I think he got a little impatient with [jockey Junior Alvarado] and said, 'Hey, we're going.' He did show a lot of maturity. He came out of that race great. The next day, you walk him, and you think, 'OK, this thing needs to run. He's too fresh.’ ”

Clark said Exaggerator missed a few days of training in August with an elevated temperature, from which he has shown no lingering ill effects while training toward the Breeders’ Futurity – his main objective, as it provides a two-turn test on the same track as the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. This was the colt’s third work since winning the Saratoga Special.

Also working for the Desormeaux barn Saturday morning was the 2-year-old filly Decked Out, who went five furlongs in 1:01.40. She is targeting the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes on Keeneland's opening day.

Jockey Kent Desormeaux – brother of Keith Desormeaux – will be in to ride both Exaggerator and Decked Out.

** Also working for the Alcibiades was Dothraki Queen, who went five furlongs in 1:03.20 for trainer Ken McPeek. The filly won the Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes on Sept. 12 at Churchill Downs.

** Ride On Curlin, runner-up in the 2014 Preakness Stakes, returned to the work tab Saturday morning, going three furlongs in a bullet 35.60. The colt has been laid off since running ninth in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes in May.