2. Exaggerator
Derby Points/Rank: 126 points – 3rd
Race Record: (9) 4-2-1
Earnings: $1,671,120
Breeding: Curlin – Dawn Raid
Owner: Big Chief Racing, LLC
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Last Race: Santa Anita: Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on 4/9/16, Finished 1st
Last Week’s Rank: 17
Analysis: It’s safe to say that his win in the Santa Anita Derby this week was the first “WOW” moment of the entire prep season. Even though Nyquist has beaten him three times…there is no way he (or anyone else) can beat Exaggerator if he runs that kind of race in the Kentucky Derby. The big question is what was the reason for the big improvement? It could have been the sloppy track, but it’s important to note the sloppy track didn’t really move him up at Delta Downs as a two year old. Trainer Keith Desormeaux somehow has to bottle up whatever happened in California and bring it with him to Kentucky. Perhaps his breeding finally showed up in the Santa Anita Derby.
